The University of Alabama International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP) is designed to provide support to Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) in their first year of teaching at UA. Completion of the ITAP is required for all international graduate students with classroom teaching or other instructional duties. There are two main components:
- Oral Skills class: International GTAs who were not exempted from an English language proficiency test on admission, may be required to enroll in the Oral Skills class. The need for additional English language support prior to teaching is determined by a combination of the English language proficiency score and the results of a placement test.
- Culture of Learning in US Higher Education badge: Required for all international GTAs for whom this is their first UA teaching experience.
| TOEFL iBT Speaking Subtest | TOEFL iBT Speaking Subtest (prior to 2026) | IELTS Speaking Band | DET Speaking Subtest | Placement Test Required? | Oral Skill Class Required? | Badge Required? | Can the Student be Instructor of Record? | Can the Student Teach in Other Capacities? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exempted from test score requirement | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| 5.5-6.0 | 26-30 | 8.0-9.0 | 130-160 | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 4.5-5.0 | 21-25 | 6.5-7.5 | 115-125 | Yes | Dependent on Placement Test results | Yes | If Oral Skills class is not required | Dependent on Placement Test results |
| 1.0-4.0 | 0-20 | 0-6.0 | 10-110 | No | 16-week Oral Skills class | Yes | No, must first pass the Oral Skills class | No, must first pass the Oral Skills class |
Placement Test
If a placement test is required, the student will be contacted by the English Language Institute. Placement tests are 7-8 minutes in length and are held over Zoom.
Placement Test Dates for Students Starting the ITAP in Fall 2026
May 28 & 29, June 25 & 26, July 23 & 24, August 17 (afternoon only)
Placement results will be published within one week of testing for the first three rounds.
Oral Skills Class
If a student is required to take the Oral Skills class, they will receive class assignments on August 17 or 18.
The Oral Skills class may be either an 8-week or 16-week class depending on a student’s oral proficiency. Please visit the English Language Institute for more details on the Oral Skills class.
Culture of Learning in US Higher Education Badge Requirements
The Culture of Learning in US Higher Education badge is offered by the UA Teaching Academy (UATA). Students must attend and complete the following four professional development modules:
- US Higher Education System: Focus on providing greater context to the regulations and structures that all GTAs reviewed briefly in the online training prior to arrival (FERPA, ADA, legal structures) – address the knowledge gaps that are specific to international students.
- US Classroom Culture: Expectations vs. Assumptions (based on GTAs having conducted observations of other classes using a shared template, developed by the UATA, to note their observations).
- UA’s Learning Ecosystem: Policies and Resources (particular focus on Learning Management Systems (LMS) and other pedagogical tools with which international GTAs are often less familiar)
- Active learning strategies in the US context.
Students must also complete the following assessment activities:
- Summarize GTA duties during the first semester (approximately a paragraph)
- Observe classes and submit required forms
- Submit classroom reflections/personalized guide
- Submit feedback from microteach observations (only for students who were enrolled in the Oral Skills class)
Students who are not currently GTAs but who plan to teach in a future semester may also enroll in the badge.
Badge Time Limits
Students who are not required to take the Oral Skills class: Badge must be completed by the end of the first semester of teaching.
Students who are required to take the Oral Skills class: Badge must be completed by the end of the second semester of teaching. Although the Badge can be taken concurrently with the Oral Skills class, we encourage students to enroll in the badge only after completion of the Oral Skills class.
ITAP Registration
In late May (for fall ITAP participants), academic departments will be asked to confirm GTA responsibilities for international students who have not previously participated in the ITAP. Students will be registered according to the ITAP placement table.
Exemptions
Department Chairs or Graduate Program Directors may request exemptions to the ITAP requirement for a student by emailing gradschool@ua.edu.