The Supervisor-Intern Relationship and Effective Interpersonal Communication Skills

Abstract

The supervision of student teachers (or interns) is a complex and multifaceted process. One critical activity in this pro cess is that of conferencing between and among the intern, the directing teacher, and the university supervisor. Two as pects of supervisory behavior identified in the literature as essential to successful conferences are: (a) effective interper sonal communication skills, and (b) the implementation of systematic con ferencing procedures. In this article, the authors examine some of the problems that often plague traditional internship programs and serve to diminish their effectiveness. This discussion provides the context for considering the type of supervisory relationship most likely to facilitate the interns growth as a teacher.