earticle

영어

The current study proposes the directions of oral communication education for adult learners. It reports the preliminary results of a survey into the workplace oral communication uses of business employees. A questionnaire was developed and administered to 121 employees working at 6 different companies. The questionnaire was constructed based on the oral communication forms, adapted and modified from the oral communication forms categorized by Crosling & Ward (2002). The oral communication forms within the organization were categorized into communication (1) with similar status staff, (2) with supervisors, (3) with lesser status staff, (4) in team works, and (5) in meetings. The most frequently occurring form of oral communication at work was 'communicating for networking' for similar status staff; 'following instructions and responding orally' for supervisors; 'informal conversation' for lesser status staff; 'participating in discussions' for teamwork'; and 'communicating for networking' for meetings. On the other hand, the most difficult form of oral communication at work was 'persuading' for similar status staff, for supervisors, for lesser status staff, and for meetings; and 'chairing and leading discussions' for teamwork. Implications for oral communication education are discussed in light of these findings.