SPEAK Appeals
Frequently Asked Questions
What are SPEAK Appeals?
SPEAK Appeals are live tests of oral English proficiency which are administered to prospective ITAs who do
not obtain a passing score on the SPEAK Test. The SPEAK Appeals process requires a prospective ITA to
participate in a short interview, to give a five-minute lexture in his/her discipline, and to answer some
questions about the lecture.
How are SPEAK Appeals scored?
The SPEAK Appeals are scored based on language skills, not teaching skills. The following components are all
considered: pronunciation (sounds, stress, and intonation), coherence (organization and
connection of ideas), and interaction ability (answering questions, comprehension of and clarification
of questions). Scores on SPEAK Appeals are either pass or fail.
How often are SPEAK Appeals administered?
SPEAK Appeals generally are held once per semester during finals week.
Who is eligible to participate in SPEAK Appeals?
When an academic unit feels that a SPEAK Test score does not accurately reflect a prospective ITAs true oral
English ability, a SPEAK Appeal may be requested. Prospective ITAs may only appeal during the semester in which
they took the SPEAK Test. TSE scores may NOT be appealed through the SPEAK Appeals process.
Who are the representatives on the SPEAK Appeals panel?
Panels for the SPEAK Appeals consist of representatives from the following areas:
The Graduate College
Division of English as an International Language (DEIL)
Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)
Undergraduate student population (if available)
Where are the SPEAK Appeals results sent and how long does it take to obtain the results?
SPEAK Appeals scores are phoned to the academic units that register prospective ITAs for the test. Generally,
the results are given to the departments within one business day.
How may academic units schedule prospective ITAs for SPEAK Appeals?
The Graduate College assists with scheduling all SPEAK Appeals.
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Last updated May 25, 2006 |
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