This study investigated the relationship between student satisfaction with speaking classes, speaking skills self-efficacy beliefs, and speaking skills achievement. To this end, one hundred Iranian EFL undergraduate students filled out two questionnaires; a research-made and pilot-tested questionnaire for student satisfaction with speaking…

Noting that communication skills are important for the processing of understanding between individuals and within the individual, this paper describes a principle and skill approach to understanding the processes of communication as background for teaching a number of skills used in interpersonal communication. The skills discussed in the paper…

Kenneth Burke, whose positions have served as the basis for countless research projects in speech communication, believes that people are actors acting out life in the social drama with the purpose of achieving the ultimate good. Considering speakers as actors centers attention on the analysis of individuals in terms of their actions as actors and…

Addressing two recurrent concerns in educational debate--how a discipline can contribute to students' analytical and critical thinking, and how to improve students' ability to express themselves orally and in writing--the Language of Critical Thinking course is designed to strengthen critical thinking skills by using a legal case study approach.…

This book is a follow-up to the original CLAS K-2 (1985) oral language program for kindergarten through second grade, but can also be used independently. It contains 50 additional listening and speaking activities designed for use together or individually with whole classroom groups. Each includes three to six activities with cut-outs, stories,…

Intended for use by college basic speech communication course directors and teachers, the course described in this paper is based on the model of communication competency developed by R. R. Allen and K. L. Brown. The first section of the paper presented a brief discussion of the model, which defines a competent communicator as one who is capable…

There are two philosophies concerning how teachers might best facilitate their students' acquisition of communication competence. The first, a skills-oriented philosophy, adopts a building-block approach to the acquisition of communication competence. Organizationally, a public speaking course might start with a unit on analyzing audience and…

Surveyed student opinions of their skill development in two different basic speech courses: (1) a basic blend of communication theory through interpersonal, small group, and public communication and (2) a blend with public speaking emphasis. Found that the course with public speaking emphasis ranked higher on all improvement items. (PD)

This paper presents six original in-class activities for audience analysis and adaptation before, during, and after a speech presentation in a basic public speaking course. The activities in the paper combine audience information surveys, demographic traits, situational traits, adaptation strategies, adjustment to audience feedback, and self…

Asserts that oral presentations of research findings by students are used in higher education. States that advice or techniques for effective speaking seldom are outlined. Provides a five-part strategy for teaching and evaluating oral communication. Includes a presentation evaluation form for assessing student performance. (CFR)

Providing insight into how learning assistance practitioners can effect positive change in the ability of their students to speak and to listen, this book presents the experiences of communication professionals who have succeeded in improving students' skills. The first five chapters describe a variety of instructional methods useful in teaching…

The undergraduate organizational communication series at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs has been designed to develop competency through knowledge, skills, sensitivity, and values. The four courses in the series--Introduction to Organizational Communication, Business and Professional Communication, Advanced Organizational…

As a preliminary study evaluating the relative merits of skill development and information exposure in speech communication classes, an opinion survey was administered to students taking two variants of the introductory course. The two courses, labeled "Basic Blend" and "Blend: Public Speaking Emphasis," included roughly equivalent units on…

Prepared as part of a series applying recent research in oral and written communication instruction to classroom practice, this booklet provides teachers, administrators, and curriculum planners with suggestions for ways to develop more effective oral communication instruction in the content areas as well as speech classes. Following a brief…