Speaking across the curriculum: teaching technical students to speak effectively

The use of speaking assignments in the technical classroom is proposed as a means of addressing deficiencies in the oral communications skills of graduates of technical programs. Why current communications courses have failed to address the oral skills improvement needs of the technical student is analyzed, and the special advantages of the technical classroom as a forum for improving speaking skills are identified. Some considerations for designing and evaluating speaking exercises are outlined, and some of the concerns that might occur to the technical educator considering such a program are anticipated.<
>