An EFL teacher/researcher shares her study of small-group discussions using conversation analysis. The study focuses on a group in which team alliances were formed as the students expressed disagreement. Read More

This report examines differences in interactional competence between novice learners and native speakers of English by focusing on a pair of low-proficiency learners and a pair of native speakers engaging in the same short task: introducing themselves to each other. After providing a brief overview of the relevant conversation analysis concepts, the author contrasts features of the two interactions and suggests resources for facilitating learners' development of appropriate turn-taking resources. Read More

This conversation analytic study describes the speaking practices used by high-intermediate-level language learners to carry out a brainstorming activity. As part of an advertising project, three learners in an intensive institute ESL classroom are searching for a concept and a name for an imagined perfume they are creating. The learners demonstrate interactional and social skills in their listing by suggesting practices, including nominations and the responses that appreciate and endorse each newly nominated idea. Read More

We consider pragmatics in language teaching, discussing how conversation analysis helps to shed light on the discursive practices that participants in talk-in-interaction use in everyday life. We consider speech acts, such as disagreement, invitation/offer, and request, that form part of a model of interactional practices. We end by considering implications for second language instruction. Read More