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GSI Teaching & Resource Center
University of California, Berkeley

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Frequently Asked Questions: Preparing to Teach

1. Where do I go to find out about my teaching assignment and what is expected of me?

Your first point of contact should be the Graduate Assistant or Student Affairs Officer in your department. He or she will arrange for you to do the paperwork for your appointment and will provide information regarding mailboxes, office space, computers, copiers, etc. Your next stop should be the faculty member or instructor in charge of the course for which you will be teaching. He or she may already have arranged a time to meet with the GSIs for the course, but, if not, you should contact him or her directly. It is important to know what will be expected of you as a GSI in the course. Some of the typical responsibilities of GSIs include attending weekly GSI meetings, running discussion sections or labs, holding office hours, grading papers, and attending lecture. Each faculty member and each course is different, so you should find out in advance how the faculty member views the relationship between the section or lab and the lecture. What function should the discussion section or lab play in the overall context and goals of the course? What teaching techniques are best suited to meeting those goals? Be sure to go over all course policies with the faculty member, especially those pertaining to assignments, grading, class attendance, and plagiarism. Do not hesitate to ask questions or seek clarity if any aspect of your duties remains unclear. Experienced GSIs in your department who have previously taught the course with the current instructor are also excellent resources to tap into as you prepare to teach. Finally, attend any departmental or campuswide teaching orientations and make full use of resources provided, such as departmental handbooks and this website.

2. How can I find a GSIship if no position is currently available to me in my department?

Many departments hire GSIs who are enrolled as graduate students in other departments. If you are looking for a position, you should first go to the Berkeley Human Resources Web page http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/labor/asejobs.htm. There you will find the name and email addresses of contact people in each department who are in charge of administering GSI appointments. Each department has its own specific application and review process to ensure that prospective GSIs are qualified to teach in that department.

3. What should I do if I am told that I need to take a language test in order to be appointed as a GSI?

All prospective GSIs who do not speak English as a native language are required to pass a test of spoken English before they can be appointed as a GSI. Graduate students who have received a B.A., B.S., or Bachelor's equivalent from a college or university in the United States are exempt from taking the exam. See the section of this website on the Language Proficiency Program for more information, or contact the GSI Teaching and Resource Center at langpro@berkeley.edu to register for a test.

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