Professional Communication Program for International Teachers and Scholars

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Harvard Griffin GSAS Collaborations

Language Seminars are 12-week seminars that meet twice a week. If you are interested in enrolling, please schedule a consultation with the instructor. Completing these courses provides eligibility for a new language assessment, if needed.

Enhancing Fluency: Speaking and Listening for International TFs targets the foundations of oral proficiency: fluency, vocabulary, and listening strategies.

What makes communication engaging? How do you tell your story as both a teacher and a scholar in your field? As a PhD student, you are called upon to present yourself and your ideas in various modes and media, for a variety of different audiences, and you have to be able to do it both remotely AND in person! In this seminar, you will practice the basics of crafting and delivering a talk, develop skills to make your communication compelling for different audiences, adapt your delivery to online and in-person situations, and practice handling questions and other impromptu speaking situations. You will gain experience telling your professional stories in-person and on Zoom, and we will analyze how our speech and the strategies we use change based on the medium. This seminar is designed for advanced PhD students who want to be more confident and engaging teachers, or prepare for conference presentations, job interviews, and job talks.

Classroom Communication Skills for International TFs focuses on a full range of oral communication skills with particular emphasis on oral English comprehensibility, teaching, and communication skills.

This seminar is designed to help international graduate students develop the oral communication skills necessary to be successful in their graduate programs, with a particular emphasis on skills necessary for teaching in the Harvard classroom. Students will work on improving their oral English comprehensibility and accuracy, learn and practice general pedagogical strategies for teaching interactively, improve their impromptu speaking skills, and build their ability to interact effectively with undergraduates. The course is designed for students who have not yet met the GSAS Oral English Language Requirement as well as PhD students and instructors who want to work on their English speaking skills for teaching and academic communication.

Each term, our undergraduate Culture and Communication Consultants provide discussion, teaching, and language practice for international graduate students. They offer an undergraduate perspective on issues related to teaching and academic life at Harvard, and support our programming in various ways, including through these offerings:

• International TF Discussion Group: Each semester, International PhD students have the opportunity to join our undergraduate Culture and Communication Consultants to practice oral communication skills and discuss topics related to language, culture, teaching, and current events. Join the discussion group.
• Language Partners: Eligible PhD students may meet with trained undergraduate Culture and Communication Consultants to practice oral English skills, build confidence when communicating in English, and learn more about undergraduate perspectives.

We have asynchronous programs, training materials, and resources for students and scholars who want to develop English language proficiency, pronunciation, and classroom communication skills. Our programs are designed for GSAS PhD students and others at similar career stages engaged in the teaching of Harvard College undergraduates.

• Professional Communication for International Scholars: Designed as a foundational resource for all international PhD students, this online program provides an overview of academic culture and communication at Harvard, and covers English language skills (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) and cross-cultural communication skills. Students can engage with materials in different areas of communication, complete a variety of tasks to become aware of their strengths and weaknesses as communicators, and find additional resources. Join the Canvas Site.

• Teaching as an International Scholar: Part of our portfolio of remote resources for Teaching Fellows, this module provides an introduction to academic culture and communication in the U.S., the language and culture of the Harvard classroom, and communication and English language resources. PhD students may register for the Teaching Fellow and Teaching Assistant Resources Canvas site to access this module. Register here.

• Blue Canoe Learning: Eligible PhD students who are working on their pronunciation skills can request a semester-long subscription for the Blue Canoe pronunciation app. This app helps individuals improve the clarity of their pronunciation with daily activities on the sounds and rhythm of English. Request a subscription here.

• Bok Guides: Explore these 2 short tip sheets on Using an Audio Journal to Improve Oral English Proficiency and Using Your Voice to Speak Clearly.

In addition to these online resources, we offer self-study programs that target various aspects of oral English proficiency including fluency, pronunciation, and clarity and coherence. Schedule a consultation to learn more or register for one of these Bok Self-Study Programs.