A one-year University of Exeter program designed for foreign students of English is divided into two major components. The language component includes classes in reading and listening comprehension, essay writing, etymology, dialectology, semantics, and sociolinguistics. Four areas of language study that are typically challenging to foreign…

This paper proposes and describes a method of developing a special-purpose foreign language culture course providing cross-cultural training for professionals working in bilingual and bicultural settings. The following points are discussed: (1) ways of ascertaining the need for and the most appropriate type of cross-cultural training; (2)…

A collaborative effort of the business community and Kennesaw College (Georgia) resulted in the development of and implementation of an introductory commercial Spanish course that has been successful in introducing students to business practices in a Spanish-speaking environment. Previously, a translation service had been developed by the…

This paper discusses the development, delivery, and evaluation of university undergraduate courses in ethnic psychology, which is defined as research and literature about four major racial/ethnic minority groups, Asian American/Pacific Islanders, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. Following a brief history of the role of…

To determine if integrating course content with reading study skills would (1) increase student learning of course content and (2) improve students' general reading achievement, one section of a reading education course for preservice teachers was taught reading study skills along with course content; two sections were given no classroom…

Research indicates that skills in listening to and motivating people need to be emphasized more in undergraduate business communication courses. Three theories of motivation--Maslow's hierarchy of needs, McClelland's achievement motive, and Hersberg's motivation-hygiene theory--can introduce students to the systems perspective, an approach…

A study investigated the types of writing assignments commonly found in undergraduate natural sciences and engineering courses. The study was used as a basis for the development of composition courses for limited-English-speaking students in these fields, the most popular fields of study among foreign students. Eighty take-home assignments given…

Today's graduating technical students need more than a sound technical education to obtain personally and professionally rewarding employment; they also need job search skills to compete successfully in the job market. To address this need, a course called "Professional Development" at Southern Illinois University's College of Technical Careers…

The most significant factor in developing the video design of a telecourse must always be the needs of the students who will view the program. In developing videotapes for a writing telecourse at a Texas community college, the instructors attempted to design programs to meet the special cognitive and affective needs of its nontraditional audience.…

Teachers' use of classroom tests and test items was examined by level of teacher training in tests and measurement, grade taught and subject area taught. A survey form was developed that contained questions about training in tests and measurement, subject areas and grades taught, from what source test items were taken, hours spent in…

Since an individual's ability to think critically most often manifests itself orally, research on sex differences should not overlook interpersonal communication styles and patterns in relation to the critical thought process. Any such examination should (1) define critical reasoning as it exists within Western society; (2) examine perceptions of…

Microcomputers have the potential to alter the entire learning environment and change the nature of education, but the use of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) methods developed when computers were less readily available can endanger or retard the change. Designed to increase the efficiency of the teaching of course content, CAI makes no attempt…

Arguing that eliminating formal grammar instruction and concentrating instead on instruction in style and organization will improve the program, this paper describes Tulane University's language orientation program for foreign students in the M.B.A. program. Following an introduction, the paper describes the students in the class and the nature of…

It is unfortunate that the field of organizational communication has neglected communication in political settings, because the bulk of students enrolled in social science curricula are likely to work in public or semipublic institutions. Problems unique to the political setting stem from the fact that most public agencies must tailor their…

The 42 papers in this volume discuss a variety of technical writing topics. The following are some of these topics: (1) industry's views on new directions in technical communication, and the technical writing skills that industry needs; (2) an interdisciplinary approach to teaching technical report writing in the community college; (3) designing…