Drawing on qualitative data gathered from interviews with twelve doctoral students in a composition program at a mid-size public university in the Northeast United States, this article documents graduate teacher-scholars' conceptual understanding of translingual pedagogy in the context of college writing instruction. I analyze and describe the…

Using Dornyei's (2005) L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) and Kubanyiova's (2007, 2009) model of 'possible language teacher selves' as main theoretical frameworks, this multiple case study explored four language teaching assistants' developmental patterns with regards to their ideal language teacher selves over a two-year period. It also examined…

Although English as a second language (ESL) programs are common in the United States, there is surprisingly little research documenting the existing structures and mentoring strategies they use. This lack of research could be partly due to ESL programs' widely varying internal structures (Larson, 1990) and the fact that they are often marginalized…

The recommendations and questions in this report enumerate key factors that may help a department answer the most important question about a graduate program: does it give its students the time and resources necessary to complete their degrees in a timely fashion? This document offers best practices in seven general areas for improving the…

This article describes an apprenticeship model that was developed and implemented across several language areas within one department at a large Canadian university. The apprenticeship provides two semesters of training for graduate foreign language teaching assistants before they are put in charge of their own classes. The purpose of this study…

This chapter discusses current models of mentoring and relates them to issues that are specific to the foreign language and literatures field. A review of the research literature on the concept of mentoring is provided, with particular focus on the mentoring of foreign language teaching assistants (TAs). It is suggested that research on teaching…

This paper examines the sociopragmatic character of intercultural communication between English Language Assistants (ELAs) and their "mentors" in French primary and secondary schools. With reference to Levinson's notion of "activity type", it argues that judgements by mentors as to what constitutes "allowable…

This book includes the following chapters: "Historical, Theoretical, and Pragmatic Perspectives on Mentoring" (H. Jay Siskin, with Jim Davis); "New Paradigms, Old Practices: Disciplinary Tensions in TA Training" (Elizabeth Guthrie); "The Professional Development of Highly Experienced and Less Experienced Teachers: Meeting Diverse Needs" (Elizabeth…

This study examines the special situation of nonnative speakers of English who teach foreign languages at U.S. institution. It argues that modules designed specifically for mentoring international foreign language teaching assistants (IFLTAs) must be included in teaching assistant workshops and seminars offered by foreign language departments.…

The volume is organized around three aspects of professional development for international teaching assistants: Part 1: Grounding Practice in Research and Researching Practice; Part 2: Beginnings, Challenges, and Growth; and Part 3: Collaborative Practices and Partnerships Across Disciplines. Change, progress, and commitment are themes that are…