Spoken English Test (SET) Instructions

Bowling Green State University’s Spoken English Test (SET) is an in-house exam designed to assess the oral proficiency of graduate students who are hoping to serve in instructional capacities (tutoring, teaching, or working in labs) as part of their assistantship duties at BGSU. Designed to meet Ohio Revised Code 3345.281, the test contains two parts: a short oral interview and a 7-10 minute teaching demonstration. Each prospective graduate assistant’s oral proficiency will be evaluated by a minimum of two staff members from the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program. Additionally, undergraduate students and a representative from the prospective graduate assistant’s department may also be present to provide additional feedback and ask questions after the teaching demonstration.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ESOL program is adjusting our placement procedures.

Details will be communicated directly to incoming students. You may also contact our office (esolprog@bgsu.edu) with any questions.

DIRECTIONS FOR TEACHING DEMONSTRATION

Please come to the test on the day, time, and place assigned and be ready to teach a 7-10 minute mini-lesson based on a concept in your field of study.

For this teaching presentation you will need to:

• Explain and illustrate a concept related to your academic field in a 7-10 minute interactive mini-lesson. Please be aware of your time limit as you prepare. You will be stopped after 10 minutes.

• Pretend that you are teaching this concept to a room of undergraduate students who are not familiar with the topic.

• Use any appropriate visual aids for the mini-lesson that you feel are necessary; however, we advise against using computer projectors or other technology which may take too long to set up, or could malfunction, impairing your performance. In the room there will be markers, a whiteboard (or chalkboard and chalk), and an overhead projector to use at your discretion.

• At the end of your mini-lesson, we will allow up to 5 minutes for you to answer questions from the “students” on the panel.