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Interactional Competence of Low-intermediate EFL Learners in a Cultural Exchange Conversation Task with Non-Thai English Speakers |
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| รหัสดีโอไอ | |
| Creator | Tanyaporn Arya |
| Title | Interactional Competence of Low-intermediate EFL Learners in a Cultural Exchange Conversation Task with Non-Thai English Speakers |
| Publisher | สถาบันภาษา จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย |
| Publication Year | 2563 |
| Journal Title | วารสารภาษาปริทัศน์ |
| Journal Vol. | 35 |
| Page no. | 61-115 |
| Keyword | interactional competence, conversation analysis, classroomassessment, low-intermediate EFL learners |
| URL Website | http://www.culi.chula.ac.th/Publicationsonline |
| Website title | Chulalongkorn University Language Institute |
| ISSN | 2286-9972 |
| Abstract | Interactional competence has received much attention recently as it isconsidered imperative for effective spoken communication between interlocutors,and especially for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This studyexamined interactional features of low-intermediate Thai EFL learners which wereemployed as they engaged in a cultural exchange conversation task withforeigners. The prompts used in this classroom assessment task served as theinstruments that yielded data in the form of audio recorded conversations,transcriptions and learner reflections of their conversations. Conversation analysisand quantitative analysis of the conversational data revealed four ?basicconversational actions? underlying 12 interactional features displayed. Findingssuggested the possibility of basic interactional competence (Kecskes et al., 2018)contributing to the actualization of some of the exchanges, as the EFL participantswere able to utilize interactional features to interact with their foreign counterpartsdespite their language limitations. Thematic analysis of learners? writtenreflections on their conversations provided insights into their perceptions inrelation to the interactional features used in their conversations. Similar culturalexchange conversations are recommended, as these types of tasks can elicit facetsof interactional competence carried out in authentic contexts; however, theyshould be carried out as low-stakes assessment tasks. Engaging in a conversationwith foreigners allows EFL learners to exercise their communicative agencies andinteractional skills, given that proper scaffolding is carried out prior to the task.Including interactional features as constructs on a scoring rubric for such aconversation task may be possible with careful design and validation, and withreminders for learners to approach the task with the four underlying conversationalactions in mind for a successful conversation. |
