Info for Instructors

Thank you for welcoming Language Learning Assistants into your classroom and spreading the word about LCLC language peer tutoring! Please read the information below the first language learning assistant visit.

What is the goal of the LLA program?

Language learning assistants serve as resources and role models to students. Through collaboration during pair and group work, students can improve their language skills, receive extra support, and experience what it's like to interact with our peer tutors.

We hope that by having an LLA in your class will benefit not just your students, but you and your LLA as well! Encourage your students to check out drop-in peer tutoring and let them know that they can become tutors/LLAs as well.

What will the Instructor do?

Contact with the LLA can be as minimal or involved as you wish.

Before the first class: Brief in-person or Zoom meeting (15 minutes) to meet the LLA and to give them information about you, your class management style, and your students.

During class: The LLA will circulate and work with groups during groupwork. You may choose to guide them to particular groups or students. The LLA will follow your lead. Don't worry if there isn't not much group work in any given class: the LLA still serves as a role model for other students just by being in the class, and the LLA learns a lot by observing your teaching.

Outside of class: The LLA prepares and prints notes for each class session based on the syllabus, course calendar, and the course materials available to them.

Email communications: The LLA will email you if they can't attend class for any reason. You don't need to contact them unless you are cancelling class.

Questions & Concerns: Please email edweber@uic.edu and/or lclc@uic.edu with any questions or concerns about the LLA. In addition, you will receive a short feedback form periodically throughout the semester to share your thoughts.

At the end of the semester, we'll ask for your overall feedback on the LLA in your class and on the LLA program as a whole.

Italian LLA Cynthia in class with Professor Maria Iusco.

Above: Italian Peer Tutor and LLA Cynthia works with Prof Maria Iusco.

French LLA Eliza helps students in class.

Above: French Peer Tutor and LLA Eliza stops and helps out French students in class.

What will the LLA do?

Language learning assistants interact with students only during pair and group work. The rest of the time, they will step back during your instructions and lessons.

During group work, the LLA will move around the class and work with different groups to support them and keep them on task. Examples of what an LLA can do during group work include:

Remodel a prompt or activity
Direct students to the resource pages in the book, including where to find appropriate and relevant vocabulary for the given task (vocabulary list, grammar tables, glossary, etc.)
Help students formulate questions
Ask leading questions
Provide encouragement
Direct students to the instructor when needed

The LLA will stay in the target language while in class. If you have any additional expectations for your class, please inform your LLA during your first meeting.

Weekly Class Visits

An LCLC language learning assistant will visit your BLP class once a week on a schedule day (e.g., Mondays at 12PM). You'll get an email from the LLA before they visit for the first time, and the first day they are in class they will take 3-4 minutes at the start of class to introduce themselves. Most LLAs will also hold one or more drop-in tutoring hours during the week, so if that is the case, please encourage your students to drop in during scheduled hours.

With your approval, an LLA may also take 3-5 minutes at the start of class to remind students about drop-in tutoring hours or briefly present an Instagram post about the target language/culture.

If you would like the learning assistant to assist you with any other type of activity, that's great! Discuss this with the learning assistant beforehand so they can be prepared. How else could a language learning assistant be helpful? If your students are completing an information gap activity in pairs, model one example with the learning assistant.

Arabic LLA Salmah works with students in class.

Above: Arabic LLA Salmah works with students on an in-class exercise.

What Training do LLAs receive?

All LLAs are required to take FR 296, the peer tutoring apprenticeship course taught by Dr. Elizabeth Weber. In this class, students learn best practices for how to effectively engage with their students.

Before their weekly class visits, LLAs will spend one planning hour reviewing your course syllabus/calendar and/or any materials you plan to use (slideshows, textbook pages, etc.) to prepare for your class and class activities. (If you will use any materials in class besides the syllabus/calendar, please make them available to your LLA ahead of time.)

How do I give feedback about the LLA program?

Your feedback helps us and your language learning assistant adapt to your classroom needs. We will check in with you through the semester to see how things are going with your LLA. Please always feel free to email Dr. Weber (edweber@uic.edu) and/or the LCLC (lclc@uic.edu) anytime to provide feedback.

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