ITAIS Newsletter, April 2026
Letter From the Editors
Elka Kristo Nagy, Ekaterina Arshavskaya, Sarah Emory
Letter from the Chair
Kyle Swanson, Ph.D., Purdue University, Lafayette, Illinois, USA
Letter from the Past Chair
Morag Burke Harrell, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Introduction of Members at Large
Kostiantyn (Kostya) Fesenko, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Ginessa (Lawson) Payne, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
Letter from the Community Events Co-Organizers
Jen Brondell Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
Jaime-Erin Parry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut , USA
Increasing ITA Comprensibility Outside Class, After Class
Kyle Swanson, Ph.D., Purdue University, Lafayette, Illinois, USA
ITAs represent a unique type of language learner, so we can help them effectively by (1) giving them insight into our pedagogy; (2) providing plans for independent practice that transparently make that pedagogy concrete; and (3) incorporating technology strategically into those plans.
Transforming English Testing: Preserving Rigor While Meeting a New Generation of Learners
Omar Chihane, TOEFL
10 Tips for Maintaining Engagement in Synchronous Online Pronunciation and ITA Courses
Eva Miszoglad, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Teaching pronunciation and communication skills online presents unique challenges that go beyond bandwidth issues or screen fatigue. Unlike many other language skills, pronunciation requires sustained oral practice, perceptual awareness, and ample corrective feedback, elements that are often harder to replicate in an online environment. When the shift to synchronous instruction accelerated in recent years, instructors of pronunciation and ITA (International Teaching Assistant) courses faced an especially steep learning curve: how can we maintain authentic interaction, encourage daily practice, and build a sense of community when everyone is behind a screen?