Graduate Resources

Orientation Program
for New Teaching Fellows

PLEASE NOTE: This site will be updated over the summer. Please check back periodically for additions and changes. Last change: July 2009

2009 Orientation: August 19–27, 2009

The All-TF one-day orientation on Thursday, August 27 is mandatory for new Teaching Fellows who are native English speakers and for all International Teaching Fellows. This event will be held in room STO B50. See www.bu.edu/maps for various campus locations.

The College of Arts & Sciences and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences holds two orientations for new teaching fellows. The first orientation is a nine-day program for International Teaching Fellows whose native language is not English. The second orientation is a one-day program for all new Teaching Fellows, both the International Teaching Fellows and those Teaching Fellows who are native English speakers.

The nine-day program for International Teaching Fellows includes a general orientation for international students, an introduction to Boston University, discussion of what to expect and how to teach in an undergraduate American classroom, and assessment and improvement of each teaching fellow's abilities in spoken English. Most of the new teaching fellows whose native language is not English will continue their English-language and teaching training during the academic year in tutorial and seminar classes. The orientation and academic-year training is implemented by instructors from the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs (CELOP).

If you are a new student and a non-native English speaker but are completely fluent in English and have spent months or years in an English-speaking country, and if you have extensive experience with the U. S. educational systems, please contact Associate Dean Scott Whitaker. It may be appropriate for you to attend only the one-day orientation program.

For native English speakers, there will be a one-day orientation on Thursday, August 27 in room STO B50. Continuing International GRS students who will be first-time teaching fellows should attend this one day orientation. See the description below.

Note that the orientation programs also apply to current Boston University graduate students who will be teaching fellows for the first time during academic year 2009-2010. The course in which you will teach will be determined by your department. Often the teaching assignments are not known until the end of August. Classes start on Wednesday, September 2, 2009.

International Teaching Fellow Orientation

August 19 - August 27


Arrival information:
Housing will be provided at the Holiday Inn, 1200 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA.

You are expected to arrive on August 18; however, if for some unavoidable reason you must arrive after that date, please contact your department as soon as possible. They will provide you with arrival information.

International Orientation Schedule
View the full International Teaching Fellow Orientation Schedule.

An orientation program for all new international teaching fellows in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will be held from Tuesday, August 19, through Thursday, August 27, 2009. Teaching fellows will have received a letter awarding them financial aid in the form of a teaching fellowship.

This orientation program is mandatory and is designed to help you adjust to life at Boston University as well as to your role as an instructor before classes begin on September 2, 2009. In addition to English language assessment and instruction, we are pleased to be able to provide some social activities. You will have an opportunity to meet with both new and continuing students, as well as some of the faculty and Deans of the College. We will also provide time for those students who have not already found permanent housing to search for an apartment or room.

All new international teaching fellows must report to the Geddes Language Center, 685 Commonwealth Avenue, 5th floor, on Wednesday August 19, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. to register for the orientation.

You will be housed at the Holiday Inn from August 18 until September 1. This housing will be paid for by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. The Graduate School will also provide your meals through vouchers during this period.

You must attend all orientation sessions in order to be provided with housing and meal expenses.

If you have any questions about the content of the orientation program, please contact Associate Dean Scott Whitaker (scott@bu.edu; telephone 1-617-353-2690).

Teaching Fellow Orientation

August 27, 2009


Arrival information and Location:
You should arrive on campus by 9:00 AM on Thursday, August 27, 2009. The Arts & Sciences Teaching Fellow orientation will start at 9:30 A.M on Thursday, August 27 in room STO B50, located in the basement of the building that houses the Graduate School, the College of Arts & Sciences building at 725 Commonwealth Avenue.

If you get lost or are uncertain where to go, report to Suite 115 at 705 Commonwealth Avenue (College of Arts & Sciences building), where a sign will be posted.

If you have questions about logistics, please contact Geri Montgomery (gmonty@bu.edu;1-617-353-2690). If you have questions about the orientation program, please contact Associate Dean Whitaker (scott@bu.edu; 1-617-353-2690). We look forward to meeting you in August and to working with you on your teaching skills.

For ALL new and first-time teaching fellows whose native language is English, as well as ALL international continuing GRS students who will be teaching fellows for the first time.

An orientation program for new teaching fellows in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2009. Please view the full schedule.

This orientation program is mandatory and is designed to help you adjust to your role as a teaching fellow at Boston University.

You will learn about techniques used by award-winning professors and teaching fellows and will benefit from a practice teaching session led by a professor. In addition, you will have an opportunity to participate in some social activities with other students, faculty, and Deans.

Your department may hold a separate orientation as well on one or more other days, in which case you will be notified to this effect. If you are not a U.S. citizen, then you should check in with the International Students and Scholars Office during the orientation week. Further instructions will be provided upon your arrival.