Business German classes at the university level have been very much in demand in recent years even though some German departments in universities have been forced to close. One reason for this is that these courses are at the cutting edge of trends toward more student-centered approaches in foreign language instruction and the move toward more…

A project at Indiana University of Pennsylvania to improve the speaking skills of 36 secondary school French and Spanish teachers is described. The project consisted of a total immersion workshop for strengthening oral skills, learning classroom techniques, and developing innovative curricula, and teacher projects to incorporate innovations into…

Argues that employer/student programs on a small scale can be as effective as larger endeavors. Describes a pilot project where employer involvement focused solely on evaluation and feedback of geography students' oral presentations. Discusses the benefits and problems of the program. (MJP)

A study was undertaken to provide a database relative to the missions and objectives for undergraduate programs in agriculture. Over 900 faculty representing 50 randomly selected universities offering undergraduate degrees responded to a mailed questionnaire. Graduating seniors at land grant universities were surveyed. Faculty findings included…

A study of the interlanguage of bilinguals and multilinguals compared the oral French proficiency of 20 native Swedish-speaking and 20 Finnish-speaking university students as evidenced in error patterns in oral tests. With the exception of phonological and phonetic errors in pronunciation, errors were classified by word class (article, noun,…

Articles in these proceedings of a conference of the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication represent the views of professional communicators and academicians who share a concern for providing breadth and quality of preparation for present and future technical communicators. Among the topics discussed in the 17 articles are…

College business communication courses should assist students to learn both how small groups make decisions and how to facilitate small group discussions. Through a unit on small group decision making, the student should be able to understand the role of small groups in organizations, the process of decision making in groups, and the importance of…

The results of one faculty's effort to design a "state-of-the-art" undergraduate program in communication are presented in this paper. The program described in the paper was developed to reflect current theory, research, and practice in the context of an increasingly information- and communication-based society. The paper discusses the…

A program (entitled "Across the Curriculum") that integrated speaking, listening, reading, and writing instruction into content areas across the curriculum, in Central College, Iowa, is described in this paper. The paper first discusses the formation of the program, which was predicated on a desire shared by faculty members in all academic areas…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 36 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: (1) distancing in young children's stories; (2) the effects of verbal and visual elaborations on the learning of abstract concepts; (3) the effects of underlined…

In a study designed to validate oral language proficiency tests, it is planned to administer a series of tests to 100 native Mandarin Chinese-speaking subjects (foreign students and their spouses). The tests will measure communicative competence in speaking (ability to speak, exhibiting control of linguistic, sociolinguistic, and pragmatic rules;…

Argues that talking helps college writers to formulate and clarify their ideas while they gain confidence. Cites R. Zoellner's "talk-write" model as an alternative to the segregation of speech and writing. Concludes that small tutoring sessions and full session discussions with developmental students encourage revision. (JG)

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…

Discusses the need of students in French business schools for developing speaking skills in English and the methods that were developed to meet this need. The use of case studies and role plays is evaluated and the need for a new way of presenting case studies is considered. (Author/AMH)

A survey of 111 campus recruiters of graduating students shows agreement that interviews are the most important selection method. Students' verbal communication skills, character, work experience, and academic performance were judged the most important personal characteristics in applicants. Work-related expectations and attitudes were the most…