English Proficiency
Prospective graduate teaching assistants who do not speak English as a native language and who did not graduate from a U.S. college or university* must complete the Institute for International Teaching Assistants and be certified as ready to teach before they can be appointed as a graduate teaching assistant.
To be eligible for the Institute, students must score a 26 or higher on the speaking section of the iBT TOEFL or achieve a minimum score of 45 on the SPEAK Test.
- International graduate students with a score of 26 or higher on the speaking section of the iBT TOEFL are not required to take the SPEAK Test and are eligible to enroll in the Institute for International Teaching Assistants.
- International graduate students with a score of 25 or lower on the speaking section of the iBT TOEFL must take the SPEAK Test and receive a score of 45 or higher to be eligible to enroll in the Institute for International Teaching Assistants.
*Prospective graduate teaching assistants who do not speak English as a native language but who hold a degree from a U.S. college or university are eligible for a waiver from the Institute for International Teaching Assistants. To obtain a waiver from the Institute, a student must have an iBT TOEFL speaking score of 26 or above and either: a) be a graduate of a U.S. college or university; b) have successful teaching experience in a U.S. college or university (documented by former advisor, TA supervisor or department chair/head); OR c) is (or will be) enrolled in a college teaching-related, department sponsored course that is equivalent to the ITA Institute. Note: Students who have received a waiver must still complete a final panel and be certified as ready to teach.
The SPEAK Test
The SPEAK Test is a taped and timed test developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and scored locally at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The SPEAK Test requires students to demonstrate their spoken English proficiency by responding orally to a variety of printed stimuli designed to elicit both controlled and spontaneous reactions. English proficiency is scored on the basis of comprehensibility, pronunciation, grammar, and fluency.
The SPEAK Test is offered approximately four times per year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for a moderate fee. The SPEAK Test is used to determine whether an individual is eligible to enroll in the Institute for International Teaching Assistants.
For more information on the SPEAK Test, call the PIESL office at 402-472-8832.
2012 SPEAK Test Dates
Thursday, April 19, 5:00 p.m.Thursday, June 28, 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 12, 5:00 p.m.
Students already on campus are encouraged to take the test on one of the earlier dates.
For more information on the SPEAK Test, call the PIESL office at 472-8832.
