Virtual Learning Resource Center

The virtual Learning Resource Center will be open over the summer for tutoring, workshops, and testing.  If you have not yet done so, please enroll in the LRC's Blackboard organization to take advantage of this resource.  Staff and cultural liaisons will be monitoring the course room M-F for students who have any questions about LRC resources or online learning. To access the virtual LRC:  Go to Blackboard → Select Organizations (top ribbon) → Search for INTO Mason LRC → Enroll.

To speak with an LRC representative, select from the left-hand course menu: 
Questions? Chat with LRC Staff, 10am-4pm.

GTA Oral English Proficiency Assessments (CELTD)

The LRC administers the oral English proficiency assessment that international Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) and Graduate Lecturers (GLs) are required to take before assuming instructional responsibilities.  If you have received an offer from a GMU department for a GTA or GL position, please see the information below about registering for and taking the test.

IMPORTANT: Due to Covid-19 university closures, all GTA assessments are being administered remotely via Blackboard's Collaborate Ultra. 

Scheduling:

You can reserve a time to take the test by going to the following website:  https://intomason.mywconline.com.  If you have not used this scheduling system before, choose "Click here to register" to create an account.  Then, log in and select "LRC Assessments (2021-22)" in the drop-down menu.  Under the "GTA Oral Assessment (CELTD)" option, you can choose any of the white blocks to reserve a time for testing.  

IMPORTANT: After you schedule your appointment, you will receive further instructions in the confirmation email.  (Check your spam folder if you do not immediately see this in your inbox.)

Registration:

Prior to your assessment, you will need to self-enroll in the Blackboard organization, GTA Testing & Tutoring.  To do this, go to this link and click SUBMIT.

Once you've enrolled, visit the GTA Testing & Tutoring site, please follow the instructions for completing and uploading the test registration form, a copy of your photo ID, and your offer letter.  Also, this site contains useful information about preparing for the assessment and accessing the testing session online.

Eligibility:

Please note: In order to be eligible to take the GTA Oral English Assessment, you MUST have an official offer letter from your department or be a finalist for a GTA position.  Also, ONLY students who were required to submit English proficiency examination scores as part of their application to GMU are required to take the GTA oral English assessment.  Please see the Admissions Office website for further details:  https://www2.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/how-apply/international

Assessment Format:

The assessment you will be taking is the Classroom English Language and Teaching Demonstration (CELTD) for which you will be asked to deliver a 15-minute classroom lecture on a topic related to your proposed GTA assignment.  For example, you could provide a course overview and an explanation of class assignments.  Alternatively, you could provide an introductory lesson on basic course material, or a more in-depth lesson on a key concept or term.  The choice of topic is yours; however, your presentation should be simplified and clear enough so that a novice in your field (like the people who will be scoring your test) will be able to understand it.   Feel free to "recycle" a presentation that you have previously delivered for a class you have taken.

During and after your presentation, the evaluator(s) will ask you a number of questions about the material you present. Blackboard's Collaborate Ultra will enable you to share slides, applications, and your screen; you will also have a virtual whiteboard accessible to you.

Scoring/Results:

Your CELTD assessment will be video recorded and scored by a qualified rater, and the results will be posted on the Blackboard site for GTA Testing & Tutoring, usually within 1-3 business days.  GTAs who do not fully pass the assessment and each subsection (pronunciation, grammar, and discourse competence) will be required to attend English language tutoring sessions in the LRC.

For questions, email: intohelp@gmu.edu.

LRC Workshops

LRC tutors are available to offer English language workshops throughout the year. Click on this link to register for LRC Programs and Workshops. 

IMPORTANT: Due to Covid-19 closures, all LRC workshops will be held remotely on Blackboard's Collaborate Ultra. Please visit the virtual LRC (instructions in separate post) to access the online sessions and to see a list of current workshops being offered.

              

INTO Mason Learning Resource Center

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) seeks to connect GMU’s multilingual students to services and resources that will enable them to improve their English language and academic skills for the purposes of educational, professional, and personal growth.

Specifically, the LRC serves both INTO Mason and the university as a whole by providing:

• Tutoring (English language and designated Pathway Program content areas)
• Workshops for English grammar, pronunciation, writing, vocabulary, test pre, etc.
• Individual and group study areas, including multi-media centers
• Library of graded ESL readers, dictionaries, and other reference materials.
• Testing of oral English language proficiency for GMU international graduate teaching assistants.
• Technology access - computers (including learning software), printer/copier/scanner.

IMPORTANT:  Due to Covid-19 university closures, all LRC operations are taking place online.  For additional information, contact: intohelp@gmu.edu.

LRC Tutoring

TUTORING:

English Language:

English language tutoring is available to students in the Learning Resource Center throughout the spring, summer, and fall semesters. English language tutoring encompasses a range of skill areas including:

• Writing: Paper organization, developing thesis statements and supporting arguments, grammatical accuracy, paraphrasing/summarizing, vocabulary selection, and proper use of citations. 
• Speaking:  Pronunciation, oral grammar, fluency, discourse competency, and presentation skills.
• Listening:  Strategies for increasing comprehension in the classroom.
• Reading:  Tools for identifying key themes and terms in academic texts.

IMPORTANT:  Due to Covid-19 university closures, all tutoring will be conducted online using Blackboard's Collaborate Ultra.  Students wanting to schedule an appointment with a tutor should email: intohelp@gmu.edu.

Faculty/Staff: To refer a student to the LRC, download the form at the following link and email to intosupport@gmu.edu:  Referral Form:  https://tinyurl.com/LRCReferral

Pathway Content Areas:

LRC content tutors are available to help INTO Mason Pathway students in designated courses that may be challenging due to the complex nature of the material.  As needed, content tutoring has been provided for accounting, mathematics, physics, economics, bioinformatics, data analytics, and statistics during the fall and spring semesters.

To make an appointment with a content tutor, students should register for and use the wconline website:  https://intomason.mywconline.com