Criteria for Appointment: Literature, Culture, and Linguistics Teaching Assistantships

Revised Spring 2021

*The term TA (Teaching Assistant) is used as the general term for apprentice personnel, although there are actually three categories of teaching assistants (assistant, associate, fellow).

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

All appointments must meet the eligibility criteria of Graduate Education.

TA APPOINTMENTS TO LITERATURE, CULTURE, AND LINGUISTICS COURSES 

General Considerations:

The Department has two goals: a) to provide the best possible instruction for our undergraduate students; b) to offer important professional training to our graduate students.

The Department will do its best to accommodate TA preferences, offer professional development opportunities for the TA, and consider the instructor’s ability to perform well in the assigned course. The Department is committed to assigning teaching responsibilities fairly and equitably.

The Department strongly encourages all TAs in the Linguistics Program to apply to teach SPAN/PORT M35 during their tenure, in order to ensure a well-rounded teaching portfolio once they enter the job market. The Department strongly encourages all TAs in the Spanish Program to apply to teach SPAN 42, SPAN 44, and SPAN 120 during their tenure, in order to ensure a well-rounded teaching portfolio once they enter the job market. The Department strongly encourages all TAs in the Portuguese Program to apply to teach PORT 46, as well as SPAN 42, SPAN 44, and SPAN 120 during their tenure, in order to ensure a well-rounded teaching portfolio once they enter the job market.

Because TA positions in literature, culture, and linguistics courses involve close collaboration with the professors in charge, the Department strongly encourages all students to become familiarized with the contents and materials covered by their courses, as well as other relevant organizational and pedagogical aspects prior to applying for these positions. Additionally, the Department strongly encourages all TAs to take advantage of the multiple opportunities that S&P and UCLA at large offer for pedagogical training and other professional development. It is the expectation of the Department that all TAs will exercise their due diligence in these areas in order to ensure an optimum quality of instruction for the undergraduate students enrolled in our literature, culture, and linguistics courses.

A limited number of positions are available during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters for TAs to assist professors in charge of SPAN/PORT M35, SPAN 42, SPAN 44, SPAN 120, and PORT 46. The Department aspires to offer all graduate students the opportunity to TA, at least, one literature, culture, or linguistics course during their tenure. Please note that, due to the size of the Portuguese Program, not all students in the Portuguese track may be assigned to a PORT literature, culture, or linguistics course. The Department will strive to assign Portuguese Program students to literature, culture, and linguistics courses offered by the Spanish Program whenever possible.

Preference will be given to graduate students with at least two years of previous teaching experience.

In order to ensure a maximum number of opportunities for all students, TAs applying to assist a literature, culture, or linguistics course for the first time will be given priority, except in the case of large courses (SPAN 42 and SPAN 44) where second-time applicants will be given equal priority in order to facilitate peer mentoring.

Other criteria for TA selection include: i) Teaching student evaluations and teaching awards; ii) Specific areas of expertise; iii) Experience with external pedagogical training (i.e. CUTF), training in inclusive teaching (i.e. EPIC Mellon Seminars), and/or other ongoing professionalization training; iv) Technological expertise.

 Procedures:

All applicants are rated by the Undergraduate Affairs Committee. Subsequently, a ranked list of all applicants and assignments is presented to the Department Chair for approval. Any proposed changes to the ranking must be discussed by the UGAC.

Assignments of Literature, Culture, and Linguistics Courses during the Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters

Assignments of Literature, Culture, and Linguistics Courses during the Summer Session

2024 TA Literature, Culture, and Linguistics Application Form