Coordinator Instruction Manual
A Coordinator Account makes it easier to manage TalkAbroad for larger programs. Coordinators can create reusable course templates and use them to set up multiple sections taught by different instructors.
This manual walks you through the complete process of setting up and using your Coordinator Account.
- TalkAbroad Coordinator Account
- Setting Up Your Coordinator Account
- Managing Teacher Sections
- Creating a Section You Will Teach
- Section Codes
- Getting Students Started
- TalkAbroad Support
TalkAbroad Coordinator Account
What is a Coordinator Account?
A Coordinator Account is designed for programs where one person needs to manage multiple TalkAbroad sections taught by different teachers.
Instead of having each teacher create their own assignments and sections independently, the coordinator can create course templates and use those templates to set up sections for multiple teachers.
This is particularly useful for larger programs where several teachers are teaching the same course or where multiple sections need to use the same set of assignments.
Coordinator Accounts allow you to:
- Create reusable templates for your courses.
- Add assignments to each template.
- Create sections for multiple teachers.
- Automatically populate new sections with assignments from a template.
- Access the section codes for the sections you manage.
⚠️ Important: The Coordinator setup process should be completed in order. Start by creating your templates,then add assignments, and finally creating sections for you or your teachers.
Upgrading to a Coordinator Account
Coordinator Accounts are created by upgrading an existing teacher Account.
To upgrade your account, contact TalkAbroad Support support@talkabroad.com. Once your account has been upgraded, your homepage will have a different layout and will display the steps required to set up your Coordinator Account.
The regular section-creation area on the Teacher homepage will be replaced by the Coordinator setup workflow.
Setting Up Your Coordinator Account
After your account has been upgraded, your Coordinator homepage will guide you through the setup process.
There are three main steps:
- Create your templates.
- Add assignments.
- Create sections for your instructors.
Complete these steps in order.
Step 1: Create Your Templates
TalkAbroad templates contain all of the assignments for a particular course.
Templates are reusable, which means you can use the same course structure each academic term without having to recreate all of your assignments.
We recommend creating a separate template for each course that uses TalkAbroad.
Why use templates?
Templates are especially useful when:
- The same course is offered every semester.
- Multiple teachers teach the same course.
- Multiple sections need to use the same assignments.
- You want to maintain a consistent TalkAbroad curriculum across sections.
Creating a Template
From your Coordinator homepage, begin the template creation process.
Create one template for each course that will use TalkAbroad.
Once you create a template, you can add the assignments students will complete throughout the course.
💡 Tip: Think of a template as the master version of your TalkAbroad course. When you later create sections for teachers, the assignments from the template can be used to populate those sections.
Step 2: Add Assignments
After creating a template, add the assignments that students will complete.
Assignments in a Coordinator Account work in the same way as assignments created through a regular Teacher Account.
If you have previously created TalkAbroad assignments, the same general assignment structure applies.
Planning your assignments
Before setting up your teacher sections, make sure the template contains all of the assignments you want students to complete.
TalkAbroad also provides sequences with conversation topics created specifically for TalkAbroad. These can be paired with preparation and reflection activities and may be useful when developing your course curriculum.
Best Practices for Creating Conversation Assignment Topics
When creating assignments:
- Make the topic clear and easy for students and conversation partners to understand.
- Provide clear and easy information to help the conversation partner guide the conversation when needed.
- Include relevant conversation prompts or questions.
- Make sure the assignment is appropriate for the students' level.
For more detailed guidance on creating assignments, find some tips here!.
Step 3: Create Sections for your Instructors
Once your templates and assignments are finalized, you can set up the teachers who will teach the course.
For each section, you will enter:
- Section name
- Instructor email address
- Class ending date
After you submit the information, TalkAbroad checks whether the instructor has used TalkAbroad before.
Managing Teacher Sections
Creating a Section for a Teacher
To create a section for a teacher, use the Coordinator setup workflow and enter the required section information.
-
Enter the section name
Enter the name you want to use for the instructor's section.
-
Enter the instructor's email address
Enter the email address associated with the instructor's TalkAbroad account.
Make sure the email address is correct. TalkAbroad uses this information to determine whether the instructor already has an account.
-
Enter the class ending date
Select the date on which the class will end.
-
Submit the section
Submit the information to create the section.
TalkAbroad will automatically determine whether the instructor already has an account.
If the Teacher Already Has a TalkAbroad Account
If the Teacher has previously used TalkAbroad, the system will create a new section for their existing account.
The new section will automatically be populated with the assignments from the template you selected.
The instructor can then log in to their existing Teacher Account and access the new section.
If the Instructor Is New to TalkAbroad
If the instructor has never used TalkAbroad before, TalkAbroad will create an account for them.
The new account will include the section and the assignments from your template.
The instructor will receive an email notifying them that their account has been created and providing login instructions if necessary.
Important: Because the teacher does not have an existing TalkAbroad account, the new account will use the first five letters of the Coordinator's last name rather than the teacher's.
If you want the new section code contains the first five letters of the teacher's last name, the teacher must first create an account in TalkAbroad. Once the teacher has an existing account, the Coordinator can then create and assign the section to that account through the Coordinator workflow.
Creating a Section You Will Teach
Coordinators can also create a section that they will personally teach.
Follow the same section-creation process, but use your own email address as the professor email address.
This allows the section to be associated with your own Professor Account while still being created through the Coordinator workflow.
Section Codes
Every TalkAbroad section has a unique Section Code.
Students need this code to register for the correct section.
Finding a Section Code
Teachers can find their section code by logging in to their TalkAbroad Teacher Account.
As a Coordinator, you can also access the section code directly from your Coordinator Account.
To view a section code:
- Log in to your Coordinator Account.
- Locate the section in the left-hand navigation bar.
- Click the section name.
- Locate the section code for that section.
Providing the Section Code to Students
Give students the section code associated with their class.
Students will use this code when registering for TalkAbroad.
Important: Make sure students receive the code for the correct section. Each section has its own unique code.
The regular Teacher Instruction Manual also identifies the section code as the information students need to register for a section.
Getting Students Started
Once your teachers and sections are set up, students are ready to begin using TalkAbroad.
Students need two important resources to get started:
- The Section Code for their class.
- A link to the TalkAbroad Student Instruction Manual.
These resources provide students with the information they need to:
- Register for TalkAbroad.
- Purchase credits.
- Make their reservations.
- Complete their TalkAbroad conversations.
Student Instruction Manual
Students should also be given access to the TalkAbroad Student Instruction Manual.
The Student Manual provides detailed instructions for the student process, including registration and completing conversations. The current Teacher Instruction Manual also recommends directing students to the Student Manual when they have questions or difficulties.
We recommend providing these resources to students before they begin the TalkAbroad portion of the course.