- 15 - teaching skills. Petitioner testified that, before taking the course, she sometimes had difficulty determining when an Asian student's response to a piece of literature signified a problem with reading comprehension or was a cultural response to a theme the student had difficulty understanding. Petitioner testified that the course has improved her ability to assess students' responses and help them understand themes in literature. Petitioner's study in Southeast Asia enhanced her skills beyond merely helping her to increase rapport with her Asian students. See Dollins v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1982-394. But see Gino v. Commissioner, 60 T.C. 304, 310-311 (1973), revd. on other issue 538 F.2d 833 (9th Cir. 1976). Petitioner has incorporated much of the knowledge she gained and many of the skills she acquired in the Southeast Asia course into her English classes. See Dollins v. Commissioner, supra. Respondent acknowledges that petitioner's participation in the U.C. Extension courses has improved her skills by helping her relate to her students and develop curriculum for both her classes and the English department, but respondent maintains that petitioner's skills improved as a result of her travel and not as a result of the courses. Although petitioner was required to travel to participate in the courses, it was the content of the courses that directed petitioner's attention to materials that enhanced her teaching. Through the course lectures and readings,Page: Previous 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Next
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