This article is an exploration of a current practice implementing civic engagement in the general education curriculum. At the university examined in this article, all students complete a civic engagement requirement in the oral communication course. The authors provide justification for why institutional initiatives are not enough to accomplish…

Speaking is regarded as an indicator of language proficiency in general. It is believed that a learner who can speak a particular language fluently is regarded as a proficient learner of that language. In the context of Nepal, the English language is taken as a foreign language and taught from elementary level to university level as a compulsory…

The aim of this mixed methods study is to identify the underlying structure of the construct of Foreign Language Anxiety in integrated listening-to-speak tasks. First, the analysis of the qualitative interviews with six postsecondary ESL learners reveals that anxiety for integrated speaking stems from four different factors: "listening,"…

It is rare for learners to reach high level of communicative ability from engaging in entirely language form either implicitly or explicitly. Likewise, focusing primarily on content may be a hindrance to embrace target language features. The integration of form-focused instruction in content-based classrooms has been effective because such an…

The aim of the present study is to examine the effects of integrating Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) on the motivation of students learning English in a preparatory school at a private university in Istanbul, Turkey. The study also attempts to find out how the students and their instructor perceive teaching and learning English…

Based on his own experiences with public speaking courses, the instructor of a speech communication course for adults brings students to the task of speaking in front of the room gradually to reduce speech anxiety or communication apprehension. During successive class sessions, students speak sitting in their seats, standing beside their seats,…

Reports college students' perceptions of service learning, noting that it helps them learn course content, and heightens their sense of citizenship, with the course-content effect intensified for "repeat" service-learning participants. Shows students evenly split as to whether service activities made them more motivated to attend class and to…

Explores the introduction to communication theory course for undergraduates. Discusses several key notions for making the course valuable to the undergraduate: the attitude of the instructor; the attitude of the students; course content and requirements; and evaluation techniques. (SR)

A study was undertaken to assess the extent to which the basic speech communication course fulfilled the needs of students and alumni of a large midwestern university. Specifically, the study sought to discover whether the basic course should be required and whether public speaking, interpersonal communication, or another activity should be the…

A long standing history of poverty and isolation continues in American Indian communities throughout South Dakota. Dakota Wesleyan University's native American students thus enter college with difficult family situations, substantial personal alienation, negative self-images and self-expectations, and a lack of career direction. Dakota Wesleyan is…

Using the Rhetoric and Communication Department of the University of California at Davis as an example, this paper addresses the problems of small communications departments that face increasing student enrollments by both majors and students seeking to enhance their communications skills, with no additional faculty to handle such a load. After an…

This introductory course in Spanish focuses on the listening, speaking, and reading skills as well as presenting some cultural background material. Attention is also paid to developing a positive student attitude toward language learning. The content of the course is centered upon passports, visas, immunization shots, customs, hotel…

Describes an inservice course for sixth-form teachers to examine ways of moving away from course books and discussing ways of getting pupils to be more competent orally, especially in the context of discussion issues as opposed to general conversation. Two intensive courses were used as the basis for the inservice day. (CK)