Patricia Helsel
Michigan Technological University offers many first year courses taught by graduate students, many of whom speak English as a second language. To improve communication in the classroom, I was encouraged by faculty members of the Math, Engineering, and Chemistry departments to offer an upper division course geared specifically to improving the speaking skills of those students. I developed a course called American Pronunciation and Expression. After assessing the general needs of each student through an introductory assignment, I narrow the focus of the class to address the specific speaking challenges in the group. The course includes several opportunities for students to present lectures, presentation of a paper, or lab instructions. Students are coached on conversational quality, pronunciation, and healthy vocal production. One class expressed an interest in learning American idioms. Collectively, it was very important to them in establishing confidence in verbal communication. I began each class with a few new idioms and required them to incorporate them into their presentations. The practice was a highlight of the course demonstrating a turning point for the students in becoming more self-assured.ichigan Technological University offers many first year courses taught by graduate students, many of whom speak English as a second language. To improve communication in the classroom, I was encouraged by faculty members of the Math, Engineering, and Chemistry departments to offer an upper division course geared specifically to improving the speaking skills of those students. I developed a course called American Pronunciation and Expression. After assessing the general needs of each student through an introductory assignment, I narrow the focus of the class to address the specific speaking challenges in the group. The course includes several opportunities for students to present lectures, presentation of a paper, or lab instructions. Students are coached on conversational quality, pronunciation, and healthy vocal production. One class expressed an interest in learning American idioms. Collectively, it was very important to them in establishing confidence in verbal communication. I began each class with a few new idioms and required them to incorporate them into their presentations. The practice was a highlight of the course demonstrating a turning point for the students in becoming more self-assured.
