Explores several assumptions in the evolution of speech communication as an academic discipline. Examines the series of choices to elevate the discussion of speech communication subject matters over and above the experience and pleasure of the speaking subject. Argues the position of speech within human science as "communicology" or a semiotic…

Reports the results of a national survey of state teacher certification directors finding a lack of uniformity among states on standards and means of assessing communication competence. Recommends seven ways in which the Speech Communication Association can serve as advocate of oral communication competence in teacher education. (KEH)

Surveys training directors of Fortune 500 corporations to determine the content and nature of listening training offered to employees. Discusses types of listening instruction, personnel receiving listening training, length of listening training, and backgrounds of listening trainers. (KEH)

Reports the means, standard deviations, and relevant statistics on an examination of the readability of 24 contemporary textbooks that employ a hybrid approach to the basic speech communication course. Discusses some strategies for developing reading skills. (KEH)

Explores ethical and legal problems related to the treatment of communication apprehension and avoidance (CAA). Discusses three options for solving those problems: "cease and desist" all treatment programs; create hybrid communication/counseling programs; or create a code of ethics for CAA treatment procedures. (KEH)

Describes a procedure that communication departments, advisors, and graduate students can utilize to help students cope with the task and social pressures that accompany working on a dissertation. Suggests that being and having a dissertation partner supplements the advisor's role by providing task support and social support. (KEH)

Discusses the goals, course units, instructional strategies, and tools for evaluation that might be used to equip students to understand interactive communication technologies in the workplace. (KEH)

Discusses how the movie "Death of a Salesman" (a 1986 movie starring Dustin Hoffman in the role of Willy Loman) is useful for teaching communication concepts. Examines how the movie provides a rich case study for illustrating the negotiation of identities. (KEH)

Argues that archetypal criticism is a useful way of examining universal, historical, and cross-cultural symbols in classrooms. Identifies essential features of an archetype; outlines operational and critical procedures; illustrates archetypal criticism as applied to the cross as a symbol; and provides a synoptic placement for archetypal criticism…

Investigates the empirical relationships between student ratings of teachers and student-reported performance. Finds that students discriminate between sociability and qualification-related aspects of teacher performance and that student ratings were not the product of "easy" grading practices. (SR)

Investigates whether variations in five audience characteristics (size, status, familiarity, similarity, and behavior) are related to audience anxiety. Supports the contention that the effect of situational factors are greatly tempered by an individual's predisposition to respond anxiously. Discusses instructional implications of these findings.…

Presents the results of a survey assessing the state-of-the-art of graduate teaching assistant training. Indicates that speech communication departments are leading the way in the proportion that train but not in the breadth or scope of that training. (SR)

Examines the relationship among perceptions of elementary and secondary teachers' selected communication behaviors and supervisors' evaluations of the teachers' effectiveness. Finds that teachers' willingness to communicate, nonverbal immediacy, and communication competence are predictive of supervisors' evaluation of students' learning and…

Investigates the relationship between teacher immediacy and student state motivation and the combined impact of these factors on learning. Reveals significant relationships between learning and both immediacy and motivation--immediacy appears to modify motivation which leads to increased learning. (SR)

Examines the effects of teacher immediacy in the multicultural classroom on perceived cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning for White, Asian, Hispanic, and Black students. Finds that, in general, teacher immediacy behaviors enhance students' learning. Notes similarities and differences in the effects of teacher immediacy cues across United…