Engaging Reflection: A Training Exercise Using Conversation and Discourse Analysis

The author describes an exercise for counselor trainees that promotes counselor reflection on the counseling process. The exercise, which also supports a social constructionist view of counseling, was introduced before, or concurrent with, skill development and required students to combine conversation and discourse analysis of their interactions with “clients.” Methods of analysis are presented, along with specific instructions for the exercise, trainees' comments, and the author's reflections regarding the exercise. We are seeking to complete and be completed … not to understand and be understood cognitively, not to get it right.     

Touchstones as sprezzatura: the significance of attachment to teacher literary formation

A touchstone is a smooth dark stone that, when rubbed against gold and silver, proves the metal's quality. Figuratively, it has come to signify ‘that which serves to test or try the genuineness of anything’ (Oxford English Dictionary). Here I consider why certain literary ‘touchstones’ of teachers are more formative than others. This leads to an exploration of the close association between the aesthetics of literary response and the sprezzatura of childhood reading. The pedagogical question of involving teachers and teacher educators in critical reflection on their practices should begin with these formative stories.     

A study of the relationship between American sign language and English literacy

This article presents the findings of a study of the relationship between American Sign Language (ASL) skills and English literacy among 160 deaf children. Using a specially designed test of ASL to determine three levels of ASL ability, we found that deaf children who attained the higher two levels significantly outperformed children in the lowest ASL ability level in English literacy, regardless of age and IQ. Furthermore, although deaf children with deaf mothers outperformed deaf children of hearing mothers in both ASL and English literacy, when ASL level was held constant, there was no difference between these two groups, except in the lowest level of ASL ability. The implication of this research is straightforward and powerful: Deaf children's learning of English appears to benefit from the acquisition of even a moderate fluency in ASL.     

A Longitudinal Comparison of the Social Behavior of Young Children with Disabilities During Exchanges with Adults and Familiar Playmates

This study was designed to describe the changes in the social exchanges of young children with disabilities with their mothers and with a familiar playmate over a 16-month period. Thirty children were observed for 15-minute sessions with each partner for four data points. Data were analyzed using a modification of a coding system developed by Vandell and Wilson (1979) to determine changes in the frequency, complexity, and content of the social exchanges. Results indicated that children engaged in more exchanges over time, and that these exchanges became more completely social. In addition, children showed more vocal behavior and more object-related acts over the 16-month period of the study.     

Metaphors and client change in counselling

Counseling is a primarily verbal activity where it can often be difficult to differentiate the literal from the metaphorical in clients' communications. Acceptance of metaphor as a genuine form of clients' experience and communication could provide counselors with viable medium for effecting change. Understanding our clients' metaphors, utilizing their metaphors for change, or constructing and presenting our own therapeutic metaphors requires learning certain skills and awarenesses. After a brief theoretical examination of metaphors and metaphoric processing, this article outlines skills and considerations for recognizing, using, creating, and delivering effective metaphors in counseling.     

Modifying attitudes toward persons with hearing impairments. A comprehensive review of the research

Negative attitudes toward persons with hearing impairments adversely affect their opportunities and self-concepts. Thus, modifying such attitudes is of concern to educators and researchers. An exhaustive search of the literature yielded 12 reports of research on modifying attitudes toward persons with hearing impairments. The research results were mixed--some studies even yielded negative attitude outcomes--and the quality of the studies was not high. Of the treatments studied, properly structured contact in particular showed promise for improving attitudes toward persons with hearing impairments.     

中国将成为人力资本的超级大国

对整个国际社会来讲,人力资源的发展越来越受到世界各国的重视。比如中国"十五"计划当中就非常重视人力资源的发展,在十六大中也强调了这一点。这些政策对于中国下一步成为全世界最有竞争力的国家起到非