Fall courses in communication skills and grammar teaching approaches designed for public school teachers.

CONTACT:  Dr. Ragina Copeland, professor of English, 304-424-8334.

Two courses being offered this fall are designed for public school teachers and will cover communication skills from two perspectives.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is offering one course in Communication Skills for Teachers and another class in Approaches to Teaching Grammar.

While designed primarily for current or prospective teachers, the three-credit-hour courses are open to anyone else as well. Ragina Copland, professor of English and a long-time member of the college’s English Department, will teach both courses.

ENGL 297- Communication Skills for Teachers will meet from 4 to 6:45 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning August 21.

At the completion of the course, participants should be able to communicate more effectively with their students, their students’ parents, their colleagues and school administrators. The course will focus on giving clear directions, presenting a credible and confident image, controlling voice tone and volume, maintaining control of a classroom, and writing clear, concise and accurate memos, letters, reports and announcements.

In addition, there will be some focus on grammar, vocabulary, punctuation and sentence and paragraph development. There will be no required textbook, no formal exams and the final grade will be pass/fail.

ENGL 397 – Approaches to Teaching Grammar will meet on Mondays from 4 to 6:45 p.m., beginning August 19 and ending December 9. It will address written and verbal communication skills.

Information about the courses is available by contacting Mrs. Copeland at 424-8334. Registration details may be obtained by from college’s Records Office, 424-8220.