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Teaching Assistantship

UW-Madison offers an excellent work-and-study arrangement for future language teachers and scholars. While studying in our M.A. and/or Ph.D. programs, you can simultaneously receive experience and training in Japanese language teaching through the Teaching Assistantship. And in addition, you will receive financial support, including tuition waiver and stipend, in pursuing your degree.

Why? -- Merits of getting a Teaching Assistantship

• Training
  Teaching experience through the assistantship is an integral part of our Japanese teacher education program. You will find a daily teaching assignment hard yet beneficial, and toward the end of your degree program, you will be equipped with practical knowledge and ample experience in teaching different levels, which will make you very competitive in the job market in the U.S., Japan, and other places.

• Teaching-Research Interface
  Your teaching experience is especially beneficial while studying Japanese linguistics, applied linguistics, and teaching methodologies. Through teaching practices, you will develop critical eyes for language, language teaching and learning.

• Financial Support
  Teaching assistants are eligible to receive tuition waiver, excellent benefits, and modest stipend. The average TA salary is enough for a single person to live a modest life on. For details, contact Teresa Nealon tenealon@wisc.edu, our department contact person.

What? -- Workload of Teaching Assistants

TAs help either First or Second Year Japanese; usually new TAs are assigned to the former. 

Supervised by faculty members, TAs usually teach one hour a day, five hours a week. The size of a TA class is about 15 to 20 students. New TAs have opportunities to seek for advice concerning their teaching, to observe classes taught by faculty and experienced TAs, and to engage in lively discussions concerning teaching with their colleagues.

Who? -- Eligibility

Applicants should have native or near native proficiency in Japanese and demonstrate their speaking proficiency in English.

Priority is given to those who have a background in Japanese language education and/or teaching experience. However, those who do not have prior experience/education will also be considered for a semester-by-semester appointment depending on the number of available positions.

The number of teaching assistants we need each semester depends on the number of students who register for our language courses. This fall, there are 13 teaching assistants working for the Japanese program. Typically, the number of teaching assistants we need in the spring semester decreases by 1~3.

For more information about our Teaching Assistantship, go to our departmental website on Application Materials:

http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/easian/apps.gr/applications.htm