For many, TAing is a daunting process, particularly for those who share a fear of public speaking. Here are some ideas on how to combat your fears, allow yourself to gain meaningful experience, and become a glowingly confident TA.
Preparation
When you’re first starting out as a TA, even if you’ve had multiple TAs or tutorials in the past as an undergrad, it’s easy to feel like you have no idea what you’re doing. This is completely normal and will slowly fade as you gain more experience. In the beginning, the best way to combat this “what am I doing” feeling is to be over-prepared.
There are several ways to do this. The first is to attend lectures and keep up with the readings of the course you’re TAing, and to take active notes as though you were going to be taking the class yourself and aiming for an A. Next, when you plan tutorials, map out every task by the minute. For example, for a 50-minute tutorial, plan 5 minutes for intros and attendance, perhaps 15 minutes for a concept overview, and then 30 minutes of discussions or other activities. Planning activities instead of lectures takes the pressure off you as the sole contributor to the tutorial, while also allowing for more effective active learning to happen in your classroom. Learn more about active learning and lesson planning under the Tutorials section.
Another way to feel prepared and confident is to commit yourself to learning your students’ names. Not only will they feel more respected, but it will feel easier to talk in front of them once you see them as individuals instead of a faceless mob who is judging your every move.
Trust your own knowledge and expertise
You are a TA in this course because you have been deemed capable to do so. Whether you’ve taken the course before, or you are ‘taking’ it for the first time as a TA, the very fact you are a graduate student proves that you are a successful and engaged learner.
Commit yourself to learning the content, and then approach the TA role as a bridge between the students and that content. Instead of imagining every question you might be asked during a tutorial and memorizing every perfect answer you would respond with, trust that you understand the topic, and that the answer will come to you. When a student asks an unexpected question, take a deep breath, and then explain the answer to them the same way you might explain it in a low-pressure situation, such as studying for a final exam with a friend.
… But also don’t be afraid to say you don’t know something
When an unexpected question leaves you speechless, don’t make something up. Tell the student “that’s a great question,” promise them you will find the answer for them, and then follow-up on that promise via e-mail or on D2L. Students show more respect to and are even more encouraged by a humble presence who is willing to admit they are not omniscient. This also shows you are more committed to their learning than showing-off.
Be yourself
It may sound silly, but being your authentic self is your biggest strength as a TA. Although you may have some favourite TAs or profs as role models for how you want to teach, the most effective strategy for being a role model teacher yourself is to build your practices and methods on your personal strengths and interests. If you’re a funny person, incorporate appropriate humour; if you’re a serious person, emphasize the importance of your key concepts for understanding the world around you; if you’re a fun person, come up with learning games. The reason this works is because it is only by being yourself that you will be most engaged, and you will see your students’ engagement reflected in your own.
Some videos on authenticity, vulnerability, and body language
Here are some sample videos that may help you to build a foundation for your confident TA persona. The key is to be your authentic self, while also understanding your tics and how your body language and tone contribute to how your students perceive you.
the TA toolkit 