A diagnostic-prescriptive teaching module on basic interviewing skills for first-year medical students is presented. The goal of the module is to help students refine interpersonal communications skills relative to the medical interview. The module provides information on the following skills: eliciting patient responses, interviewing techniques and terminology, observing and interpreting patient's methods of expression, and awareness and management of feelings evoked during an interview. Specific objectives include the following: (1) identify examples of interviewing techniques that are facilitative; (2) identify examples of open-ended questions, clarifying statements, recapitulation, focused questions, and empathic statements; (3) consider both the specific content of the interview and modes of expression when listening to patients; (4) identify kinds of linguistic communication and paralinguistic communication; (5) list four types of behavioral communication and five typical feelings expressed by patients; and (6) support the rights of patients to their own feelings, philosophies, moral codes, and life styles. Test items are included. (SW)