The teaching plans in this manual are designed to help teachers to familiarize their students with basic features of the English language. Each lesson is divided into five sections: The Warmup, which includes review of previously taught material; the Oral Presentation and Repetition; Reading and Writing (group and/or individual instruction);…

Considers how the cultivation of patterns of spoken English can help basic writers become more aware of the structures of written English. Provides background information needed for discussing with students the similar characteristics of oral and written language. (HB)

All content areas utilize the four basic skills--reading, writing, arithmetic, and oral communication. Children's literature can be used to teach these skills for four reasons: (1) there is a children's book for every concept to be taught; (2) children enjoy reading; (3) children's literature can be used to teach content, process, values, and…

Focusing on a model "game language," outlines an approach to speech instruction aimed at improving students' speaking skills and their understanding of variable speech habits. Discusses (1) speech instruction as part of the English curriculum, (2) a primary lesson "talking about talk," (3) the speech game--restricted sustained monologue, and (4)…

As a result of an influx of foreign students, and an assessment of student attitudes toward communicating with foreign students, a survey of foreign students at South Dakota State University was conducted to determine their needs in and problems with the basic speech course. Sixty-six surveys were returned. The results indicated that by far the…

Intended for educational practitioners interested in basic skills instruction, the papers in the first section of this volume detail the progress that has been made in classroom research during the past decade and discusses three characteristics of effective teaching--teacher expectations, active teaching, and classroom management. The second…

A community college basic speech instructor found that having students read public service announcements (PSAs) from various nonprofit organizations is a novel and beneficial way for them to experience the oral reading phase of the introductory speech course. Students chose one of three PSAs to read on the college radio station. The readings were…

A laboratory approach to instruction is employed in the basic speech communication course at a southern university. Approximately one-third of the semester is spent on public speaking and performance assignments, while the remainder of the course focuses on interpersonal communication. During the oral performance part of the course, half of the…

This publication includes five papers that were presented at a language communications conference that emphasized integrating the language arts at elementary and secondary school levels. Walter Loban stresses the importance of classroom language activities that involve children in genuine purposes and that link language to thinking. Charles R.…

Interpersonal communication and literature are two areas of knowledge that should be pursued together. Plays offer the opportunity to explore and to participate in the process of dialog. Some plays can also lead the viewer/reader/actor to introspection. "The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail" by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee can be studied at once…

To provide a framework for secondary English program planning, the first half of this book defines the rationale and nature of an English curriculum, outlines content in language, literature, composition, reading, and speaking and listening on five levels, and offers procedural suggestions for developing a local English program. The last half of…

Drawing from recent research, this paper focuses on communication games and activities that can be used to teach speaking and listening skills ("referential communication skills"). Following a brief review of the research, the paper offers a set of eight criteria for evaluating curriculum materials intended to teach speaking and listening, and…

This study is designed to compare "traditional" and "immersion" methods of language instruction to determine whether the latter is a viable alternative in four-year, secondary-school language programs. Both methods are evaluated on the basis of student achievement in comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Spanish. The hypothesis…

To test the relative pedagogical value of electronic feedback within the Eastern Michigan University's fundamentals of speech program, the following general hypothesis was established: the greater the completeness and accuracy of student speech performance feedback, the greater the degree of speech skill a student sill later exhibit. Feedback was…

Defining basic speech communication courses as those public speaking, interpersonal, or communication courses that treat fundamental communication concepts, this annotated bibliography reflects the current thought of speech educators on the basic course. The bibliography consists of 27 citations, all of which are drawn from the ERIC database. (SKC)