The TSE/SPEAK Tests

Undergraduates at public and private research universities nationwide frequently complain about their daily struggle to understand the heavily accented English of ITAs (Penner, 1997; Young, 1990). Based upon regulations by the ABOR, The University of Arizona Graduate College policies listed in the Graduate Assistantship/Associateships Hiring Manual state that:

All GATs engaged in direct student contact who are from countries where English is not considered a first language and/or who are not citizens of the U.S. or Permanent Residents must demonstrate minimum proficiency with spoken English. Verification of a passing score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE), administered by the Educational Testing Service or the SPEAK test available at the Center for English as a Second Language, University of Arizona, is required before the student's hiring paperwork will be processed by Systems Control.

Thus, the University of Arizona has set a number of regulations and guidelines for ITA testing, hiring and training, and the University Teaching Center in its commitment to teaching excellence uses the TSE/SPEAK Test in order to assess international students' ability to communicate orally in English. Moreover, the University Teaching Center has developed the ITA Program to help prepare the ITAs for their various roles in classes, labs, or discussion sessions. The main goals of the program are to develop ITAs' communication and teaching skills so that the ITAs may be better understood by their students and assist ITAs in bridging their personal cultural differences.

For ITAs:

Frequently Asked Questions

Brief instructions to register for the SPEAK TEST:

1. Obtain a permission slip filled out by your department.
2. Register for the SPEAK test using the online registration form. A $60 fee for the SPEAK Test is charged to your bursar's account.
3. Take the permission slip, online registration printout, and a photo ID to the Cottonwood Room (Student Union, 3rd floor, across from the Redington Room Restaurant)between 8-9:30 am on the date for which you registered to take Part 1 of the SPEAK test.
4. Candidates who do not pass Part 1 of the SPEAK Test in the morning will be instructed to take Part 2 of the SPEAK Test (a 20-minute audio tape test) offered in the afternoon of some of the dates listed on this memo (dates will be available as needed) [see sample test].

For Dept Admins:

The schedule and process for the SPEAK test is currently
under review and new information will be posted once decisions are made
regarding the new process. Please contact the Graduate College if you have any questions or concerns.

Memo: SPEAK Test Guidelines - This memo contains some information regarding the SPEAK test. Please keep in mind that the dates are not current.

SPEAK Test Permission Slip