This course enables students to improve pronunciation, articulation and vocal quality. Includes study of speech physiology and applied phonetics. It will help students to assess personal voice and diction patterns and provides structured class experiences to facilitate speech improvement. Emphasis is on non-clinical speech concerns.

Students will establish speech improvement goals appropriate for their personal and professional needs. In keeping with these goals, students will demonstrate acceptable pronunciation, articulation, and vocal expressiveness.

The major topics to be covered are:

A. International Phonetic Alphabet

B. Physiology of speech production

C. pronunciation and enunciation

D. Volume, pitch, rate, tone, emphasis, stress

E. Individual speech pattern analysis

F. Accents, regionalisms, dialects

The required textbook for this course is:

• Hahner, Jeffrey C., Martin A. Sokoloff, and Sandra L. Salisch. Speaking Clearly. 6th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2002.  The text comes with CDs.
• Access to a computer with a headset and microphone for recording and playback on WIMBA

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/.

Your course grade will be determined according to the following points:  

There are 2 proctored exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

You may also schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or at our campus offices.

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu/.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.