TOP - Foreign Language TAs

TOP test takers who intend to TA as a foreign language teacher in the various language departments on campus (Asian Languages, Spanish & Portuguese, etc.) face a special problem when deciding on a topic for the prepared presentation (task 3) of TOP.

In many foreign language departments, TA's spend their time in class speaking the target language, and only speak English during office hours or if there is some problem.However, a foreign language TA still needs competence in English to work with students in office hours and deal with student problems/concerns. Thus we need to assess the spoken English ability of these TA's as well. 

Therefore we suggest that for the prepared presentation, the topic be about some academic aspect of the language such as:

• well-known literature in the language
• an aspect of the grammar or phonology of the language
• the history, culture or demography of the language

A few words of the language may be spoken during the test as an example, but please remember that the TOP is a test of one's English language ability.

Note that if language is not one's major field of study, one should not give a presentation on the language. For example, a chemistry major from China should give a presentation on Chemistry, not on Chinese, even if he/she is applying for a TA position in the Asian Languages Department.  Further questions should be directed to the TOP coordinators at top@oid.ucla.edu.