People spend about three-fourths of their waking hours engaged in some form of communication and about half of this time speaking and listening. In spite of this, communication generally is ineffective. There are many reasons for improving one's communication skills, the most important being employability. For example, a survey of personnel directors of both large and small businesses ranked communication skills as having the most influence on their decision to hire college graduates. The basic speech course at the University of Hawaii was designed to meet the needs of Hawaiian students, who, as a group, are more fearful of speaking and often do not leave a favorable impression of themselves when speaking with strangers. The course brings students gradually through a series of skills related to interpersonal communication, interviewing, discussion, and public speaking. The course emphasizes the principles and practices most useful on the job or at school. While not enough time has passed to judge the long term effects of the course, over a two-year period students' evaluations of the course have been most favorable. (HTH)