Assuming that the forensic coach should attempt to facilitate the students' success in original speech events as well as provide a basis for understanding communication skills to be transferred to other communication settings, the coach as "educator" is crucial. While the purpose of the coach is to guide and direct a student toward an appropriate…

Debaters have several poor word-choice and word-formation habits that detract from their ethos as advocates as well as from the clarity of their arguments. In many instances, debaters, to their competitive and educational detriment, employ habitual phrases, questionable redefinitions, and poorly coined new words. Many currently popular debate…

Examines the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating educational debate into a marketing class. Notes that marketing debates can provide valuable experience both to help students learn various sides of controversial issues and to develop oral communication skills. (MM)

Presents 10 techniques teachers can use to help stutterers manage their fluency problems. (MM)

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) requires that students demonstrate communication competency. It is up to the institution to demonstrate how these competencies are achieved. Broward Community College (Florida) chose to identify competencies using the National Communication Association (NCA) Sophomore Exit Level Speaking and…

Presents a broad overview of the assessment movement. Reviews several approaches to assessment including basic skills, general education, major, and student development. Considers the nature of assessment in the communication field. (KEH)

The lecturer's first job is to get the students' attention. Techniques to hold the students' interest include: adapting the lecture to the audience; covering a few topics in depth rather than many superficially; and putting variety in the format. Nonverbal communication is as important as the content of the lecture. (JN)

As part of the Speech Communication Association (SCA) 1990 Summer Conference on Communication Competency Assessment held in Denver, Colorado, one work group worked on the development of a speech performance evaluation form and/or process grounded in and driven by the competency paradigm. Prior to and during the conference, the group developed a…

Examines an integrative approach for teaching communicative competence among first-year students learning a second language (Spanish). Results of the study indicate that those students who participated in regularly scheduled individual interviews with the instructors improved their oral communication skills considerably more than those who did…

The following papers relevant to second language instruction are compiled here: (1) "The Three Most Critical Issues in Foreign-Language Education Today," by Lorraine A. Strasheim; (2) "A Bird's Eye View of Bilingualism in Canada," by Chavarche Tchalekian; (3) "'...To Educate the Multi-Faceted and Harmoniously Developed…

This guide for scholars presents a step-by-step process for planning and delivering an effective presentation. Chapter 1 discusses the four principles that underlie all presentations: (1) responsibility to the audience; (2) making conscious decisions about what to present; (3) making decisions before, during, and after the presentation; and (4)…

This paper describes a paraphrasing activity devised to assist English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) graduate students at Ohio State University develop their academic writing skills. The activity is based on the community language learning approach. The students in the class were divided into groups of three, with each group member in turn assigned…

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…

This conference covered the following topics: (1) individualized instruction in Arabic, French, German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish at the Ohio State University; (2) individualized instruction in the same languages at other institutions; and (3) individualized instruction in other languages. Panel discussions included individualized instruction at…

Written for professional people returning to study, this book provides practical guidance and strategies to increase confidence, enhance skills, and develop critical awareness and creativity. Chapter 1 helps students identify reasons for return to study and their implications; examine their interpretations of what learning is; and think about…