All Articles

New TA Q&A

Author: lskramer

With Dina Gadieva, PhD, ALT & Sam Richardson, MA, LIT

What do you wish your students knew about you?

Dina: I wish they knew I would do all in my power to help them succeed in this course.

Sam: I hated English classes until college.

What is something you have learned from your students during the first weeks of class?

Dina: I learned they were as nervous as me.

Sam: Dragonball is still fairly cool.

What one teaching tool will we always find you with?

Dina: Scaffolding through exposure.

Sam: The textbook (it helps me to wave it around as I talk).

By the end of the semester, what one word do you hope your students will use to describe you?

Dina: Approachable.

Sam: Competent.

What’s something you are passionate about (outside of ISUCOMM)?

Dina: I am interested in psychology.

Sam: Jazz.

What is your most frequently used emoji?

Dina: ❤️

Sam: 😤

If you had your own late-night talk show, who would you invite as your first guest?

Dina: My dad.

Sam: My brother’s cat, Levi.