Outlines the predominant paradigm of teacher training that claims theory as the primary component in teacher preparation and that holds an empty vessel view of teachers-to-be. Advocates asking questions from an ecological and phenomenological viewpoint. Describes four different ways, drawn from the author's experience, that a person might be…

A survey, completed by 15 professors of English, indicated a fundamental lack of student critical thinking skills within their department, and a 90 percent discrepancy in teacher training with only 10 percent of teachers having received formal training. This paper describes a workshop designed to educate and motivate the English professors in a…

Information is presented on the total number of faculty in four of the major humanities disciplines, on their gender and racial/ethnic composition, and on their level of education and tenure status. The following four core disciplines were assessed: English, history, modern languages, and philosophy. Of the 693 originally surveyed institutions of…

Unlike modern foreign languages, but like English and Biblical Hebrew, the Graeco-Roman tradition constitutes a major component of the cultural identity of every native speaker of English, and, as such, should be a mandatory part of every American's intellectual luggage. Because of the academy's relectance to face the fact that our active…

This report is the result of discussion of some 35 interrelated issues which have contributed to a loss of definition of "English" programs at all educational levels. Fearing further fragmentation of the curriculum would take place without reform, the conferees propose an articulated English program based on four cardinal principles. They seek to:…

This survey, the result of a four-year study, classifies schools by size, geographical location, and type. Chapter one examines the composition, power, and nature of the English department. This includes description of its procedures for recruiting new faculty members and for awarding promotion and tenure, and an examination of teaching loads. The…

Curriculum reform begun in January 1968 in the English department at Bethany College (Lindsborg, Kansas) is detailed in this article. New offerings feature three "mode" courses: (1) the Romance-Epic, (2) the Comic and Satiric, and (3) the Tragic. Two new majors, the English major and the English teaching major, are examined; degree requirements…

Intended to inform both the new and the experienced English teacher about the present state of knowledge in the field, this textbook is also addressed to students preparing to teach English language and literature in junior and senior high schools. The book stresses application rather than theory, presenting specific classroom procedures drawn…

Based on the theme of the past, present, and future of science, technology, and communication programs, this proceedings presents 49 papers delivered at the 1999 annual meeting of the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC). Papers in the proceedings are divided into 12 subsections: The Shape of Programs: Past,…

This study describes the contrasting cultural norms of academic writing and academic writing instruction at a large American university, comparing these differing viewpoints in order to identify difficulties that non-native-speaking undergraduates might experience in proceeding from English as a Second Language (ESL) to freshmen composition…

Interactive lectures play an important role in improving comprehension and in enhancing communicative competence in the English language for EFL university students taking content lecture courses. This article considers the interactive discourse in lectures of the English Studies Department at the University of Alicante, Spain. It describes an…

The advantages of cooperative education for English departments and the role of the faculty member as a consultant for the program are discussed, based on the experience of Northeastern University. Attention is directed to starting this type of program in the English department, the consultant's role as a catalyst, placing English majors, and…

To describe and evaluate current practices in college composition programs, a study was conducted of the 19 California State University campuses. English department chairs completed a short survey on courses, staffing, and special projects, and structured interviews were conducted with these chairs and various other program coordinators from a…

The English department at North Carolina State University faced a rapid, large-scale transition of a number of its professional writing courses from traditional classes to online courses. Recognizing that numerous barriers, including unresolved administrative issues, faculty resistance, and lack of training could impede this process,…

Three common policies used by English departments in Kuwait universities to accommodate the students in appropriate course types and levels are discussed and compared from a practical perspective. The three policies are concerned with placement tests and remedial courses and are intended to: (1) place students with high scores on the standardized…