What is the OEPP Volunteer Program?
The Oral English Proficiency Program has established a unique
undergraduate volunteer program that 1) helps prepare international
teaching assistants (ITAs) to become effective instructors at Purdue
University, and 2) gives undergraduate students a voice in the
preparation of their future TAs. By inviting undergraduate
students to observe as students in ENGL 620 give oral presentations,
international students receive practical experience communicating
effectively to an undergraduate audience. In turn,
undergraduates are exposed to the considerable knowledge and
expertise that international students have to offer.
Our greatest need is for undergraduate volunteers to observe as international
teaching assistants (ITAs) in ENGL 620 give short
presentations. Volunteers observe 2-3 presentations in
a 50 minute class period. Volunteers may be asked to
participate in a question and answer session, and will complete a
brief written evaluation on each presentation. The OEPP also
hosts other volunteer activities throughout the semester such
roundtable discussions and one-on-one conversation activities.
Faculty refer undergraduate students to the OEPP website where
students may learn more about the volunteer opportunities available
to them and sign-up on-line. The program has become quite
popular with over 1,100 undergraduates volunteering at least one
hour of time during the 2007/08 academic year.
Undergraduate volunteers benefit by:
- being exposed to individuals from diverse cultures;
- seeing firsthand the knowledge ITAs have to offer;
- observing the considerable effort ITAs put in to learning to
become effective classroom instructors;
- having a voice in the preparation of ITAs through feedback
on the presentation evaluation;
- having an opportunity to earn an OEPP certificate of
appreciation (after 10 hours of volunteer time).
International Teaching Assistants benefit by:
- gaining practical experience in oral communication with
undergraduate students;
- receiving practice in spontaneous, unrehearsed conversation;
- learning firsthand what undergraduate students at Purdue are
looking for in a teaching assistant;
- receiving written feedback on what they are doing well and
where improvement is still needed;
- having the opportunity to interact with undergraduates.
How you can help:
Many faculty offer incentives to their students for their
participation. For example:
- Extra credit for attending 2 or more OEPP activities;
- Volunteering for the OEPP as a way to make up for a missed
class;
- Offering OEPP volunteerism as a choice on a list of required
university or community service opportunities.
Students receive a participation memo that can be turned in as
proof of their attendance.
If you would like to make your undergraduate students aware of
this opportunity, please contact our
volunteer coordinator, Beth Lageveen, for more information.
She is best reached by e-mail at
blagevee@purdue.edu.
At your request, Beth can visit your class to present a brief
PowerPoint presentation on the OEPP volunteer program. We are
also able to supply bookmarks for your students that list the OEPP
web address and contact information. Thank you for your
consideration.
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