HOLISTIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS: LEVERAGING CONVERSATIONAL GRIDS FOR FRESHMAN SUCCESS IN SPEAKING AND WRITING

Аннотация

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Conversational Grid, a pedagogical tool designed to enhance both speaking and writing skills, in the context of freshman university students. With a focus on developing holistic communication competencies, the research explores how this structured framework can bridge the gap between verbal and written expression. Over the course of an academic semester, students participated in a series of conversational exercises, peer feedback sessions, and writing tasks, all framed within the Conversational Grid. The findings indicate that students who engaged in the Conversational Grid activities demonstrated significant improvements in both their oral and written communication abilities. In particular, the experimental group showed enhanced clarity, organization, and fluency in their writing, as well as increased confidence and articulation in spoken communication. Student surveys and interviews revealed high levels of satisfaction, with students reporting a stronger sense of preparedness for academic discussions and writing assignments. The study concludes that integrating conversational and compositional practices through the Conversational Grid offers a comprehensive approach to communication skills development, fostering both academic and professional success for first-year students.