An examination of concerns about and suggestions for revising the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Oral Proficiency Guidelines indicates that confirmatory empirical research and determination of the relative absence or presence of components are needed. (CB)

Argues that as long as classroom grammar is couched in vague or technical terms, it is not "basic" enough to help students with genuine literacy problems. Discusses how the grammar of students' speech can be sufficient for students' writing when properly brought to their conscious attention. (HTH)

This paper is an invitation to critically engage in the discussion of "indigenous knowledges" and the implication for academic decolonization. Among the issues raised are questions of the definition and operationalization of indigenous knowledges and the challenges of pursuing such knowledge in the western academy. The paper draws…

Claims that punctuation contributes substantially to writing effectiveness. Argues that punctuation's primary function is to signal the "prosody" (patterns of pitch, stress, and hesitations) that authors have in mind when they write. Observes that a sensitivity to the sound of written language is essential for the effective use of…

Demonstrates that in spoken discourse many clauses introduced by "subordinating conjunctions" are actually neither structurally nor informationally subordinate. Suggests that the study of linguistic complexity must include spoken as well as written discourse and take account of cultural and situational language contexts. (SR)

Presents a consumer's viewpoint of problems inherent in the use of interpretation to get deaf class members into the stream of vocally expressed communication, focusing on the kinds of misunderstandings that can arise when one language is expressed in the three dimensions of space and the other has only the dimensions of speech. (38 references)…

Emphasizes the importance of orality, a dimension of textual authenticity, that can influence the content, the form of a speech transcript, and the act of criticism. Demonstrates, with Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech, that incorporation of orality does not necessarily provide answers to all of the critic's questions. (SR)

Compares the turn-taking systems in computer-mediated communication (CMC) and oral conversation. The study is based on quasisynchronous CMC conversations between students in a college classroom.(Author/VWL)

This article examines what one university has done to prepare for its program review for recognition by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), a Specialized Professional Association (SPA) of NCATE. The history of the standards movement within higher…

Although the primary use of the speaking section of the Test of English as a Foreign Language™ Internet-based test (TOEFL® iBT Speaking test) is to inform admissions decisions at English medium universities, it may also be useful as an initial screening measure for international teaching assistants (ITAs). This study provides criterion-related…

Speech communication teachers can assist students in gaining more facility with language by helping them become active learners or problem solvers through: (1) experiencing an event; (2) reflecting on this experience which leads to (3) the formation of abstract concepts and generalizations about what has been learned; and finally (4) incorporating…

Describes a method of teaching students to introduce one another formally to the class in a brief speech. This technique involves four steps: (1) the teacher presents the vocabulary, (2) students obtain the necessary information, (3) the introductory speeches are delivered, and (4) the speeches are written out for a grade. (SED)

Describes use of teleprompter to assist foreign language instructor in stimulating coversation in classroom. (BK)

Describes three areas in which speech and writing diverge sharply and urges teachers to free remedial students from the constraints of their spoken language. (DD)

Describes how foreign language instructors can test oral communication skills by simulating real-life situations and how this testing format was adapted so it could be used in a multisection French course. (one reference) (GLR)