A study of the speech abilities of 150 teacher credential candidates

This study is aimed at analyzing the speech adequacy of credential candidates. It is hoped that the results will suggest a type of speech training, in terms of a specific course, which will be beneficial to those candidates who are in need of speech help. If what the candidates as a whole seem to need and what they seem to have acquired through speech training is known, a course designed along the lines of these speech needs can be more easily constructed. In general, this thesis will attempt to answer the following questions: (1) What type of speech training would be most beneficial to credential candidates?; (2) Do credential candidates who have had one speech course have more adequate speech abilities than those who have had none?; (3) Is the speech of those candidates who have two or more speech courses more proficient than those who have had only one course?; (4) What particular courses, if any, seem to have contributed most to increased proficiency?; (5) What is the most serious deficiency in the speaking ability of the credential candidates? An attempt will be made to answer these questions by indicating tendencies. The conclusion of this thesis will also propose other issues of particular significance or interest which might be used in future investigations