Spoken English Test for Teaching Assistants (SETTA)

University of Minnesota policy states that to be employed as a teaching assistant or instructor, graduate and undergraduate students whose home language growing up was not English are required to demonstrate spoken English Language Proficiency (ELP). ELP can be demonstrated through TOEFL or IELTS speaking subscores, taking the SETTA, or successful completion of an ITA course. 

It’s important to note that the ELP is separate from language proficiency requirements for admission to an undergraduate or graduate program. English proficiency for teaching assistants is required by the Minnesota legislature and the Language Proficiency Requirements for Teaching Assistants reflects the University’s response to this requirement.

Students should take the SETTA if:

• Their TOEFL or IELTS score is more than 2 years old
• They were admitted with a Duolingo, PTE Academic, or Cambridge C1 Advanced score
• They were admitted with a language proficiency waiver

Students do not need to take the SETTA if:

• Their TOEFL speaking subscore is 27 or higher
• Their IELTS speaking subscore is 8.5 or 9.0
• They meet the requirements of the U of M English Proficiency Exam Exemption list 
• They are currently enrolled in an ITA course (GRAD 5102 or GRAD 5105)
• They are not currently or planning to hold a TA appointment

Departments can request exceptions on behalf of international teaching assistants by contacting Alyssa Bonnac.

The SETTA is conducted online via Zoom and in the presence of two raters and an undergraduate teaching assistant. The test taker delivers two short presentation tasks, followed by a brief Q&A (Questions & Answers). 

The online SETTA has two tasks:

1. Contrast 2 concepts from your field. Concepts are assigned from our SETTA database or from your department.
2. Define and explain a process or sequence. The test taker is asked to provide 10 options at registration and the testing team will choose one during your test.

The test lasts 30 minutes and is cost-free for students and departments. 

Students can take the SETTA once per academic year. 

During the test, on Zoom:

For the first task:

1. You will be given a choice of two pairs of words/concepts. You will choose ONE pair and you will have 3 minutes to think about how you want to contrast those two terms.
2. You will talk about those two terms for 3–5 minutes and then the testing team will ask you questions about them for 5 minutes.
3. You can write on a tablet, Zoom whiteboard, or a piece of paper to show as you talk.

For the second task:

1. We will choose one of your provided topics at random.
2. You will talk for 3 - 5 minutes about that topic. This is not a teaching test, so you do not need to prepare anything ahead of time.  After this introduction to your topic, the testing team will ask you questions for 5 minutes.  
3. You can write on a tablet, Zoom whiteboard, or a piece of paper to show as you talk.

Practice aloud solving, explaining, and contrasting concepts from an introductory textbook in your field. You can find free versions of many introductory textbooks at the University of Minnesota Open Textbook Library. If possible, present to a group of friends who can ask you questions about what you explained. 

The following video shows what you can expect at a SETTA. 

Results for the SETTA are recorded as an ELP rating and sent to the student and entered in the University reporting system within 2 business days. 

Departments should assign teaching duties that align with the student’s ELP score and advise the student to take an ITA course according to the guidelines in English Language Proficiency (ELP) ratings. Students are responsible for enrolling in GRAD 5105 with an ELP 2 or GRAD 5102 with an ELP 4 according to their teaching duties.  

Disability Services

Suite 180 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street
612-626-1333 voice or TTY
Disability Services website

It is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have documented disability conditions (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, or systemic) that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or to meet course requirements.

In the same way, prospective TAs with disabilities are encouraged to contact Disability Services and the International TA Program testing coordinator to discuss their individual needs for accommodations on the SETTA. All discussions will remain confidential.

If I have a TOEFL iBT score, do I need to do anything else?

Your iBT speaking subscore will be automatically converted to an ELP rating and used to determine your eligibility for a TA or instructor position. If you’re satisfied with your score, you don’t need to do anything else. However, you may take the SETTA if you think your English has improved since taking the TOEFL iBT. (There is no risk in taking the SETTA. Whichever score is higher, the iBT or the SETTA, will be used for your ELP rating.)

I have an IELTS score, do I need to do anything else?

At this time, IELTS speaking subscores are NOT automatically converted to an ELP rating in the system database. If you’d like to use your IELTS score, send a copy of your score to your department and the ITA program coordinator so we can manually convert your score to an ELP rating and confirm your eligibility for a TA or instructor position. 

If you’re satisfied with your score, you don’t need to do anything else. However, you may take the SETTA if you think your English has improved since taking the IELTS. (There is no risk in taking the SETTA. Whichever score is higher, the iBT or the IELTS, will be used for your ELP rating.)

I have a Duolingo score, do I need to do anything else?

At this time, Duolingo is not correlated with the ELP rating system. You should take the SETTA to determine your ELP rating. 

I was not required to take the TOEFL for admission. Why do I have to take the SETTA?

Requirements for admission are set by professional schools, and academic colleges or departments. English proficiency for teaching assistants, on the other hand, is required by the Minnesota legislature. The Language Proficiency Requirements for Teaching Assistants reflects the University’s response to this requirement.

What if I don’t attain an ELP 1 rating?

You have two options:

1. Enroll in the ITA GRAD course that corresponds to your current English Language Proficiency level (GRAD 5105 for ELP 2 or GRAD 5102 for ELP 4). At the end of each course, passing your final exam will increase your ELP rating.
2. Take the SETTA, but only once per academic year.

What if my ELP is 1, but I want to pursue professional development for teaching in the U.S. and further improving my English?

GRAD 5105 Practicum in University Teaching for Nonnative Speakers is a great option. The 2-credit course offers discipline-specific language enhancement, teaching practice with coaching, and personalized support.  

If you have a significant amount of teaching experience and would like less language-focused support, GRAD 8101 Teaching in Higher Education in the Preparing Future Faculty Program is an excellent option.

Individual consultations may also be arranged to support teaching.

I won’t be a TA or instructor this year. Should I take the SETTA anyway?

If you don’t have an TOEFL iBT score, we recommend taking the SETTA one or two semesters before you plan to be a TA. Your score will let you and your department know what type of TA position you are eligible for and if required courses to support your success in teaching are recommended. If you wait too long and then don’t pass the SETTA, you may end up ineligible for a TA position when you need it. For advising on when to take the SETTA, contact Alyssa Bonnac.