The Michigan Daily-Thursday, February 22, 1979-Page 5 Foreign (Continued from Page 1) Counseling Office turns up commen- ts such as "difficult to understand, heavy Japanese accent," and "should learn to speak better English." INDIVIDUAL departments are solely responsible for the selection and placement of TAs. None of the many University of- ficials contacted is aware of any University-wide policy that sets a given level of proficiency in English for TA appointments. Each department .sets its own policy. The University department primarily responsible for helping those who have difficulties with spoken English is the English Language Institute (ELI). R. Fraser, Administrator of Student Ser- vices for the Institute, said "The problem; (of TAs who do not speak English well) is a fairly common one University-wide. We hear complaints about it all the time. But what people don't understand is that there isn't any magic cure. Problems with English can be corrected, but not in a short period of time." The problem is further complicated, according to Fraser, because there are no standardized tests with which to measure oral proficiency in English. The tests available measure written proficiency, but that, said Fraser, "doesn't help much when you're trying to determine if someone is suitable for a teaching position. He (the candidate) may be able to read and write English at a reasonable level, but still be unable to speak it. If he can't speak English, he shouldn't be teaching, but we have no way of objectively measuring speaking ability. FRASER ADDED that the Educational Testing Institute of Prin- ceton, New Jersey is working on a test to measure oral proficiency in English, but that this test is still in the develop- mental stages. Until this test is available, concluded Fraser, "Depar- tments ought to conduct interviews with teaching candidates to be sure of oral ability in English before making appointments." Although ELI can help in evaluating the English skills of prospective TAs, it has no direct role in the appointment process. The Mathematics Department has been severely criticized by many students as a bastion of the TA who cannot communicate in English. Associate Chairman M.S. Ramanujan, who is in charge of the department's graduate program, admits that "There is substance to this complaint,dthough the problem may be exaggerated." RAMANUJAN maintains that the Mathematics Department makes a major effort to ensure that its TAs can communicate in English. All Mathematics TA candidates who do not speak English astheirknative tongue are required to take the ELI- administered English proficiency examinations. This "requirement in- cludes foreign students who have received degrees from American universities. Prior to this year, graduates of American universities, whatever their native language, were exempt from this requirement, but due to some exempted individuals who were found to have severe English problems, this exemption hasbeen revoked. Some TAs with severe English WAKE to +I+E t IchtoM TAs' English questioned THE 1st ANNUAL ANN ARBOR X-COUNTRY SKI RACE & OUTING located 20 miles N.W. of Ann Arbor i " . +>. problems are assigned strictly to grading duties, while others are sent, at departmental expense, to English classes where they can.practice with native speakers. When all else fails, however, "A TA who really can't com- municate, who can't convey the material," Ramanujan said, "won't be allowed to continue teaching." Ramanujan claimed that students have patience with the TA for whom English is a problem. "Many times students will find," he said, "that after a few days, the teacher's accent no longer bothers them, they can under- stand him, and find him to be a good teacher. If, however, after about a week; they still can't understand the teacher, then they should cometto see me, and we'll try and work something out." MATHEMATICS TA Eitan Fenson echoed Ramanujan on this point, and added that a language impediment "may be outweighed ,by excellence in other areas." Of course, most foreign TAs do not have a serious problem with English. One freshperson said about his Chinese algebra instructor, "He does have a slight accent, he isn't that difficult to understand, and he is an excellent teacher - one of the best I've had." Most students, however, do not un- derstand why a department would ap- point a TA who has difficulty with English. According to LSA Associate Dean Robert Holbrook, because the TA program serves as the major source of support for graduate students, depar- tments are embroiled in a dilemma. "What do you do," he asked, "if you have a graduate student who is out- standing in his field, but doesn't speak English well? Do you deny him support, perhaps thereby forcing him out of school? You have to balance both con- 'cerns." HOLBROOK NOTED that some of the larger departments, which use many TAs, simply may have difficulty getting enough people to teach all of the necessary classes. "Sometimes," he said, "it becomes a question of 'poor- class' versus no class at all." On the other hand, if the University hopes to maintain its prestigious reputation, the case of "poor-class ver- the most comfortable chairs in the Union U-M Stylists at the UNION sus no-class" can rarely be pleaded. Although the problem of TAs who can- noteffectively communicate in English is recognized, the University as a whole, has taken no steps to deal with it. Individual departments, such as Mathematics, seem to be making an ef- fort to correct the situation, but judging by the frequency and vehemence of students' complaints, they have not been wholly successful. Former heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles fought Joey Maxim five times and won all five bouts. 16 Kilometer 8.1 Kilometer Competitors Rice Citizens Rice SUNDAY, FEB. 25-10:00 AM $4.00 entry fee. MAIL ENTRY ENDS FEB. 21 for Information ... RACE DAY REGISTRATION ENDS 9 AM Call PIRGIM office, 313-662-6597 or write: A2 SKI RACE, 517 S. 4th Ave. SPONSORED BY Ann Arbor, MI 48104 ..e . r6 Mountaineering #7 _' r ,, . N ._ _ .$ will Oh sure, injured indignation. "A quiz?" you protest, feigning ignorance. Well sir, what do you think these mountaineering' lessons have been all about? That's right - knowledge, and the accumulation thereof. So put your gray matter on red alert and start cracking. Here's where you move to the top of the mountain. Ors get left at base camp.And,bythe way, remember that the difference between the two is all inyour head. Multiple Choice Drinking Busch beer is (A) Sucking'emn up -s- mountains C) Quaffng A mountaineer's best friend (B) Bailbondsman' (C) Main squeeze (D) Free and flexible arm *a U oU &o s pu et UT uoS ne %W M not (a) :JaMSy A Bennington Baxter-Bennington, the noted financier of mountain- eering expeditions, was fond of saying: (A) "The price is right' (B) "Your check is in the ma'" (C) "Keep all your assets liquid ', (D) "Put this on my tab, fella' *14VTtJw OU SUs& 9 Aoq'B peopd ?urxaq4&m qnotuoq,!Ranuea (a(aDS) :amsuy The best place for a mountaineer to take a romantic R&R is: (A) Somewhere over the rainbow (B) 24 hours from Tulsa (C) In the craggy peaks (D) Deep in the heart of Texas .9101 01 semioo um tioSn : q9tIUVv jo (o) :amsuV You can recognize a mountaineer by his: . (A) Crampons (B) Sherpa guides (C) Pickaxe (D) Foamy moustache Sep JaMsuy The most common reason for mountaineering is: (A) Because it's there (B) Because it's better than nothing (C) Because nothing is better (D) All of the above " uiod eures Een o4 eouioite Rein ieed etrN uo ivgq PUFmuT U~deex V~q*8uTLS XO O IMO sgr o seuarem oeR j-eugeunoU, LIGAS BSAOU I j'qfoAT 0UI UOUIUQO y OU sT J8TlU*et~Jq~e M JO euoN JSM.SU NNW" cif - J-,V T r" oral Exam Here's where youputyour tongue to the test. Arrange three glasses, two ordinary beers and one Busch in front ofyour- self. Ask a friend to blindfold you andpour each into a glass. Sip all three, taking pains to clear your palate between beers - either by eating a plain soda cracker or lightly dusting your tongue with a belt sander. After sampling each, identify the moun- tains. Unless you'vejust returned from the dentist with a mouthful of novocaine,thisshould be easy.Cold refreshment and natural smoothness are your two big clues to the peak. LEgg Teat 1 This is the visual perception portion. Simply read the pertinent subject phrase and determine which picture most closely symbolizes it. Then, check the appropriate box. , ;*:,, y , /A r. 7K^i. -'-ter 00 4 a ";, . Y . . 5 . : r .S.,4K .^ . : _ ' '' ? .. } I (A) Mountaineering (B) ] (A)EQ Mountain Lion (B)E ' 00 (A) ] Mountain Peak (B) [ (A) Q Mountain Pine (B) [ (A) Mountain Cat (B) [ I E. ,. (A) Q Mountain Music (B) E Scoring 10-13 correct: congratulations, bucky, your flag waves at the summit. 7-10 correct: not bad but there's room for improvement; run to the package store and keep mountaineering. 4-7 correct: don't mountaineer without an adult guardian. Less than 4: who read this test to you? . . .:.riii - -"Iwo W"---" 'YiOr'iNM wbY0Y Y1MJf rl ' "". - - MO+ +rr 'Mountaineering is the science and art of drinking Busch. The term originates due to cold, natura~ly refreshing taste inside. !. ., 5 to ..; "; # the snowy, icy peaks sported by the label outside and perpetuates due to the I ; "