This case study reveals a series of significant and effective changes that resulted from administering a needs assessment to managers working in a bank undergoing a major change in the organizational culture. The assessment changed not only the training objectives or the client organization, but also the training design. What originally began as a…

This study explored the effectiveness of communication training for clergy, working to create an outcomes assessment model for such endeavors. Clergy-participants (N=46) completed an extensive training process designed to increase the transformative quality of their sermon communication. Training outcomes were assessed with a prepost test design,…

Tells how actors can be taught stage dialects. Covers pre-rehearsal procedures, auditions, initial dialect sessions, and rehearsal procedures. Includes a bibliography of standard texts and recorded materials. (PD)

Relates leadership needs in corporate organizations with the experiential learning in Outward Bound courses. Explores the value of Outward Bound inductive learning in developing management and leadership potential on three organizational levels--supervisory, middle management, and executive. (PD)

Provides practical information for those interested in implementing a communication apprehension program: (1) description of 24 communication programs; (2) glossary of various methods used to treat communication apprehension; and (3) classified bibliography arranged by treatment method. (PD)

Suggestions on how instructors can improve the effectiveness of communication courses presented for business and industry. Emphasis is placed on the initial meeting with company officials, class preparation, and teaching style. (PD)

Results of this study suggest that regular oral interpretation course work had no effect on student's measured perspective-taking abilities, but an oral interpretation course specifically designed to increase these skills had the predicated effect. (PD)

Defines and discusses traditional intercultural training programs and assesses four basic models in terms of classroom value. Emphasizes the value of the experiential approach for classroom instruction. (MH)

Describes a model for communication training in bargaining and negotiation skills. The model was designed for enforcement officers who collect delinquent taxes but can be adapted for clients in other public and private organizations. (PD)

Introduces and comments on articles in this symposium issue. Contends that speech teachers have methods to overcome communication problems. Challenges them to sort their methods out, test and phrase them in clear language, document assertions from their own classroom investigations, and eventually build a theory to help people improve their…

Findings demonstrated that the reason students enrolled in a Speech Confidence Laboratory was to improve their speaking skills and to reduce their fear of speaking. Although findings indicated that the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA) was not the decisive factor influencing students' enrollment, the PRCA is an adequate…

Reports on a joint training program by communication and psychiatry departments to (1) strengthen instruction in interpersonal skills for medical students; (2) offer graduate students in communication the opportunity to develop skills as instructors and researchers; and (3) emphasize the usefulness of communication specialists to faculty and…

Describes a Rationale-Emotive-Therapy (RET) approach as a classroom method for reducing students' communication apprehension. Compares RET with two other classroom methods (desensitization and communication skills training) and concludes that all three methods work equally well. (PD)