The need for testing oral proficiency in the foreign language is discussed and several kinds of testing procedures described. A specific oral language production test is suggested. (RM)

An activity intended to foster authentic conversation in the foreign language classroom--a hypothetical situation involving a choice of people who are to survive--is reported. French, German, and Spanish versions of the material are provided. (RM)

Establishes the validity and reliability of an instrument for evaluating whether English classes employ 35 variables indicative of the "growth through English" philosophy. (DD)

Four children, aged 3.9 to 5.5, were recorded talking to different listeners (adult, peer, baby and baby doll) and role-playing a "baby just learning how to talk." As a measure of the children's responsiveness to situational cues, each sample was analyzed for formal and functional characteristics. (Author/RM)

This paper discusses how to teach listening so that English-as-a-Second-Language students can develop a level of listening ability that is useful in the real world, not just in the classroom. It asserts that if teachers know the processes involved in listening comprehension and some features of spoken English, they can provide students with…

Since students learn conceptually, the basic speech course should be more than a skills course. Skills are the mechanics of speaking; teaching only skills tends to produce mechanical speakers. Basic course instructions need to continue to address skills, but must also address concepts. Concepts come from research, and the emphasis of the basic…

This book provides those new to the field with a blend of practical and theoretical information. The author addresses a spectrum of recent information about the process of qualitative educational research and brings together in one volume the essential elements of all aspects of the field. The text: (1) Introduces traditions and influences in the…

Oral communication competence is essential for career success and for effective participation as a citizen in a democratic society. Unfortunately, many students do not have oral communication competence, and even more unfortunately the success of graduating students rests heavily on their communication skills. Oral communication competence,…

A meta-analysis considered the impact of various methods of improving public communication skills on critical thinking. Manuscripts were obtained by searching the available electronic databases (COMINDEX, Dissertation Abstracts, ERIC, Index to Communication Journals, PSYCHLIT), various bibliographies available on the topic, as well as the…

The theme explored in this personal narrative is that of the life of a rhetorician, in writing and in speech. The narrative muses about what goes into the making of a rhetorician, questioning whether it might be ritualized education, proceeding along lines of traditional methodology, or whether it could be informal education, hit-or-miss, with its…

Arguing that first-person narratives can illustrate communication theories and concepts found throughout basic communication course texts and can serve as first-person examples of the effects of racism and stereotyping, this paper summarizes two "powerful and engaging" texts that illustrate the standpoint of African-Americans in the…

This paper presents a brief overview of existing requirements in the state of Texas for the certification of public school teachers (K-12) with regard to the field of speech communication. The paper outlines speech requirements: (1) in the high school curriculum; (2) for admission to most teacher education programs; (3) for teaching certification;…

This research examines how peer facilitators in an experiential learning model of communication in introductory speech communication courses offered at the University College of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada, are able to meet the specific learning needs of male and female students simultaneously. Also examined is the perceived role of these…

After deciding which criteria a capstone course in a speech communication department should meet, faculty at West Texas A&M University decided to designate SCOM 401, Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism, as the capstone course. It is offered fall semester every year for juniors or seniors, and students are required to present their final…