Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site scorplx.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!scorplx!frank From: frank@scorplx.UUCP (Frank Pavelski) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: T.A's in college Message-ID: <199@scorplx.UUCP> Date: Thu, 18-Oct-84 10:13:13 EDT Article-I.D.: scorplx.199 Posted: Thu Oct 18 10:13:13 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 19-Oct-84 00:51:53 EDT Distribution: na Organization: Honeywell Info. Systems, Billerica, MA Lines: 25 *[] Are there any other college students out there that have had communication problems with a teaching assistant at their respective college? The University of Lowell where I am currently enrolled, is notorious for hiring graduate students to teach very difficult courses such as Calculus, Physics or Data structures.The real problem is when the school hires a grad student that can hardly speak english. I'm really not biggoted at all, but if they are going to hire teachers that hail from some country other than the U.S., can't they at least make sure they have a working knowledge of the english language? The use of analogy in teaching is very important when you are demonstrating a totally new concept to the student. (At least it is to this student!). When a professor can't explain something in terms that can be understood by the student, failing grades keep popping up on that piece of paper they call a transcript. Maybe some students would have a difficult time with any professor, but when the average final grade in a course is 55 and the standard deviation is 5, you really begin to get worried. Frank Pavelski Sitting on a pebble by the river playing guitar......