Public Speaking Apprehension

An interesting take on commapp.
Fear of Flying, Public Speaking and All Phobias Gain Rapid Relief From New Meridian Based Procedure

World Citizens Guide

Take a look at this guide; it's a natural to use in connection with intercultural communication. You can also download an abridged version free..
World Citizens Guide

USA Vanguard - Communication Professor McPherson resigns

I don't know McPherson, but I just thought this was
interesting.
USA Vanguard - Communication Professor McPherson resigns

Communication Skills Test

Here's an interesting self-test that you might find useful.
Communication Skills Test - Short

Even CEOs need IPC

Still another bit of testimony to the importance of IPC.

IPC in Afghanistan

Take a look at this if you get a chance. It seems everyone is realizing the value of interpersonal communication skills.

TICB

I thought that students using TICB might be interested in the attached website. The skills we teach in interpersonal communication are taught in the graduate school of management!
syllabus

Verbal Abuse

I just ran across this and I think the way it's presented electronically is just great. Whoever did it, it looks just fine!
Deal with VA (link 3)

Pubilc Speaking Research

If your students don't already know--and I suspect they do--they can create a "news alert" for their speech topics with Google (it's free). Just indicate the phrase you want Google to search and you'll be sent via e-mail or mobile phone actually, websites and other items that include that phrase. There are other "news alerts" sites (you can search for them with your favorite search engine with the term "news alerts"); it just seems that Google is the easiest to navigate.

Relationship Deterioration

I thought it might be interesting for students to compare the path of relationship deterioration as described in the textbook with that described by an actual person going through it. The Nick Lachey article in the current issue of Rolling Stone might do the trick.

Rolling Stone : Nick Lachey: King of Pain

After the breakup

Here's a little addition to what we say in the texts about what to do after a relationship breaks up.
MSN Dating & Personals - The right way to rebound

Cultural Attitudes Exercise

Here is an exercise I’m planning to use in an upcoming revision. I figure that using extreme statements is the best way to awaken in students the importance of understanding their cultural attitudes and the consequences of such attitudes.
Exploring Cultural Attitudes
One of the best ways to appreciate the influence of culture on communication is to consider the attitudes people have about central aspects of culture. In a group of 5 or 6—try for as culturally diverse a group as possible—discuss how you think most of the students at your school feel (not how you feel) about each of the following. Use a five-point scale: 5 = most students strongly agree; 4 = most students agree; 3 = students are relatively neutral; 2 = most students disagree; 1 = most students strongly disagree.
_____ 1. Most people receiving welfare benefits don’t really want to work.
_____ 2. The issue of discrimination against women is overly exaggerated.
_____ 3. Homosexuals are mainly interested in having sex with many partners.
_____ 4. Minorities would be successful if they worked hard and stopped complaining.
_____ 5. Racism isn’t going to end overnight so minorities need to be patient.
_____ 6. Poverty is just a natural way of life for some people.
_____ 7. Most feminists are just too sensitive about sexism.
_____ 8. Both females and males are victims of sexism.
_____ 9. Gay rights means gay men and lesbians demanding special privileges.
_____ 10. All men and women have a choice to be homosexual or not.
_____ 11. Racism isn’t going to end overnight so minorities need to be patient.
_____ 12. Minorities have the same opportunity as whites to succeed in our society.
Attitudes strongly influence communication. Understanding your cultural attitudes is prerequisite to effective intercultural communication.
Source: These statements were taken from the Human Relations Attitude Inventory (Koppelman, with Goodhart, 2005). The authors note that this inventory is based on an inventory developed by Flavio Vega.