ESL Information for International Teaching Assistants

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee International Teaching Assistant Assessment (MITAA) is a requirement for some international teaching assistants who are non-native speakers of English and who will be assigned classroom duties as part of a graduate teaching assistantship.

Background: The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System established policy 20-17 in December 1991 concerning the selection, training and evaluation of teaching assistants. Section 1.B states: “Non-native English speakers must be required to demonstrate proficiency in spoken English before they are assigned classroom duties as teaching assistants.” The English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs Office has established the MITAA as the tool for assessing spoken English proficiency of international teaching assistants.

The minimum standardized test score requirements for international teaching assistants who will have classroom duties are: speaking score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT; or 7.5 speaking score on IELTS. In addition, the graduate programs of some schools or departments may have a higher requirement.

The MITAA evaluates English language proficiency for the classroom. The assessment is administered by the Office of ESL Programs in Curtin Hall, Room 672 (tel: +1 (414) 229-5757; e-mail: esl@uwm.edu).