EFL Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions about Communication Strategies Teachability

Subject Areas : آموزش زبان انگلیسی

راضیه  بهروزیان ¹ (گروه زبان انگلیسی، واحد سراب ، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی ، سراب، ایران)
ناصر  غفوری ² (گروه زبان انگلیسی، واحد تبریز ، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی ، تبریز، ایران)
سعیده  آهنگری ³ (گروه زبان انگلیسی، واحد تبریز ، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی ، تبریز، ایران)

Received: 2021-12-11 Accepted : 2021-12-11 Published : 2021-08-01

Keywords: Perception, communication strategies, teaching CSs, Iranian EFL learners’ perceptions, teachability,

Abstract :

The current study examined the Iranian EFL teachers’ and students’ perceptions about Communication Strategies Teachability. The study was conducted with 20 teachers and 110 students from universities and private language Institutes in Tabriz, Iran. The literature regarding the teachability of communication strategies (CSs) has been far from conclusive. Some researchers reject the possibility of CSs instruction while many empirical studies support their teachability. Taking a mixed method design, the present study used a language proficiency test, a questionnaire and an interview for data collection. In the quantitative phase, the participants’ responses to questionnaire before and after a 12-week period of teaching CSs were statistically compared. The analysis of the quantitative data obtained from the questionnaire through Paired-samples t-test indicated that the students’ perceptions towards the usefulness of CSs grew significantly more positive after their instruction. The qualitative analysis of the interview data collected from the teachers indicated that most teachers found CSs useful and possible to teach. It was also found that these strategies improved capability of English language learners to speak and enhaned their conciousness of CSs. This study could offer pedagogical implications for both teachers and students and pave the way for further studies in the field.

References:

Alahmed, K. I. M. (2017). Developing strategic competence through task-based language teaching: A comparison of implicit and explicit instruction (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of York Education, UK. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9dd7.

Alderson, J., & Bachman, L. (2004). Series editors’ preface to assessing speaking, In J. Alderson & L. Bachman

              (Eds.), Assessing Speaking (pp. ix-xi). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.      

Barkhuizen, G. P. (1998). Discovering learners' perceptions of ESL classroom teaching/ learning activities in South African context. TESOL Quarterly 32/1, 85-108.

Bataineh, R., Al-Bzour, W., & Baniabdelrahman, A. (2017). On the teachability of communication strategies to Jordanian EFL beginners: Exploration and reflection. International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET), 4(3), 213-222.

Bejarano, Y., Levine, T., Olshtain, E., & Steiner, J. (1997). The skilled use of interaction strategies: creating a framework for improved small-group communicative interaction in the language classroom. System, 25(2), 203-214.

Bialystock, E., & Kellerman, E. (1987). Language strategies in the classroom. In B.K. Das (Ed.), Communication and learning in the classroom community (pp. 160-175). Singapore: SEAM Regional Language Centre.

Bongaerts, T., & Poulisse, N. (1989). Communication strategies in L1 and L2: Same or different? Applied Linguistics, 10(3), 253-268.

Bongaerts, T., Kellerman, E., & Bentlage, A. (1987). Perspectives and proficiency in L2 referential communication. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 9, 171- 200.

Bygate, M. (1987). Speaking. Oxford University Press.

Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1, 1- 47.

Cohen, A. D., Weaver, S. J., & Li, Tao-yuan. (1995). The impact of strategies-based instruction on speaking a foreign language. Research Report . Minneapolis: Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, University of Minnesota.

Corder, P. (1983). Strategies of communication. In C. Faerch, & G. Kasper, Strategies in interlanguage communication. (pp. 15-19). Essex: Longman Group Limited.

Denscombe, M. (2003). The Good Research Guide for small- scale research projects. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Dornyei, Z. (1995). On the teachability of communication strategies. TESOL Quarterly, 29(1), 55-85.

Dornyei, Z., & Thurrell, S. (1991). Strategic competence and how to teach it. ELT Journal, 45(1), 16- 23.

Dornyei, Z., & Scott, M. (1995). Communication strategies: An empirical analysis with retrospective. The 21st Annual Symposium of the Deseret and Linguistics Society (pp. 137-150). Provo:UT: Brigham Young University.

Dornyei, Z., & Scott, M. L. (1997). Communication strategies in a second language: Definitions and taxonomies. Language learning, 47(1), 173-210.

Dornyei, Z.,& Thurrell, S. (1991). Strategic competence and how to teach it. ELT Journal, 45(1), 16-23.

Dyers, C., & Abongdia, J. (2010). An exploration of the relationship between language attitudes and ideologies in a study of Francophone learners of English in Cameroon. Journal of Mulilingual and Multicultural Development. 31(2), 119-134.

Ertmer, P. (2005). Teacher pedagogical beliefs: The final frontier in our quest for technology integration? Educational Technology Research and Development, 53(4), 25-39.

Faerch, C., & Kasper, G. (1983). Strategies in interlanguage communication. London, England: Longman.

Faerch, C., & Kasper, G. (1986). Strategies competence in foreign language teaching. In G. Kasper, Learning, teaching and communication in the foreign language classroom (pp. 179-193). Aarhus: Aarhus University Press.

Faucette, P. (2001). A pedagogical perspective on communication strategies: Benefits of training and an analysis of English language teaching materials. Second Language Studies, 19(2), 1- 40.

Brett, A. G. (2001). Teaching communication strategies to beginners. Language Learning Journal 24(1), 53-61.

George, D., & Mallery, P. (2003). SPSS for windows step by step: A simple guide and reference. 11.0 update the d. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Harding, E. M. (1983). "Communication Strategies". Dublin: Trinity College Dublin, Centre for Language and Communication Studies.

Hmaid, Y. (2014). The Impact of Teaching Oral Communication Strategies on English Language Learners in Libya (Doctoral dissertation). De Montfort University Leicester UK, UK. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2086/10947.

Hofstede, G. (1997). Cultures and organisations: Software of the mind. Chicago: MCGraw-Hill.

Huang, C. P. (2010). Exploring factors affecting the use of oral communication
strategies. LongHua Technology University Journal, 30, 85-104.

Hymes, D. (1972). On communicative competence. In J. D. Pride, & J. Holmes (Eds.), Sociolinguistics. Selected readings (pp. 269- 193). Harmondsworth, Washington, DC: Penguin.

Kongsom, T. (2016). The impact of teaching comunication strategies on English speaking of engineering undergraduates. PASAA 51, 39-69.

Lam, W. (2006). Gauging the effects of ESL oral communication strategy teaching: A multi-method approach. Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 3(2), 142- 157.

Lam, W. (2007). Tapping ESL Learners' Problems and Strategies in Oral Communication Tasks: Insights from Stimulated. Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Institute of Education. Prospect, 22(1), 56-71.

Le, T.T. (2006). Teaching communication strategies to Vietnamese learners of English (Unpublished  doctoral dissertation). Columbia University.

Maleki, A. (2007). Teachability of communication strategies: An Iranian experience. System, 35(4), 583-594.

Manchon, R. M. (1999). Fostering the autonomous use of communication strategies in the foreign language classroom. Links & Letters, 7, 13- 27.

Moazen, M., Kafipour, R., & Soori, A. (2016). Iranian EFL learners' perception of he use of communication strategies and gender effect. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 24(3), 1193-1204.

Moradi, F. (1996). An Investigation into the problems of teachig & learning English in Tehran Province (Unpublished master's thesis). Shiraz University, Shiraz.

Nakatani, Y. (2005). The effects of awareness-raising training on oral communication strategy use. Modern Language Journal, 89 (16), 76-91. doi:10.1111/j.0026-7902.2005.00 266.x.

Nakatani, Y. (2006). Developing an oral communication strategy inventory. The Modern Language Journal, 90(2), 151- 168.

Namaziandost, E., & Imani, A., (2020). Compensatory strategies and Iranian intermediate         EFL learners’ speaking fluency: focusing on self-repetition and comprehension check strategies. International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation (IJLLT), 3 (3). DOI: 10.32996/ijllt.2020.3.3                                

Ogane, M. (1998). Teaching communication strategies. Retrieved Feb 15, 2005, from http:// web28.epnet.com. ezproxy.tamu.edu:2048/resultlist.asp.

Oxford, R. L. (1990). Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. Boston: Heinle & Heinle Publishers.

Paribakht, T. (1985). Strategic competence and language proficiency. Applied Linguistics, 6(2), 132- 146.

Poulisse, N., Bongaerts, T., & Kellerman, E. (1990). The use of compensatory strategies by Dutch learners of English. Dordrecht: Foris Publications.

Rabab'ah, G. (2016). The effect of communication strategy training on the development of EFL learners' strategic competence and oral communicative ability. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 45(3), 625- 651. doi:.1007/s 10936-015-9365-3.

Rahimi, M. (1996). The study of English language instruction at the secondary schools of the Isfahan province (Unpublished master's thesis). Shiraz University, Shiraz.

Rossiter, M. J. (2003). It’s like chicken but bigger: Effects of communication strategy in the ESL Classroom. Canadian Modern Language Review, 60(2), 105- 121.

Sato, K. (2005). Teaching and Learning Communication Strategies: From a Sociocultural Perspective. Paper presented at The Second Language Forum at Columbia University, (pp. 1-7). New York.

Scarcella, R. C. (1990). Communication difficulties in second language production, development and instruction. In R.c. Scarcella, E. S. Andersen, & S. D. Krashen (Eds.), Developing communicative competence in a second language: Series on issues in second language research. Boston: Heinle &
Heinle.

Selinker, L. (1972). Interlanguage. IRAL; International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 10(3). 209- 231.

Stern, H. (1983). Fundamental concepts of language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University press.

Tarone, E. (1977). Conscious communication strategies in interlanguage: A progress report. TESOL, 77, 194- 203.

Tarone. E, & Yule, G. (1999). Focus on the language learner. Oxford: oxford University Press.

Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (2010). SAGE handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioural research (eds.). Thousand Oaks, CA, SAGE Publications, Inc., 912 pages. ISBN: 10: 1412972663.

Tavakoli, M., Dastjerdi, H., & Esteki, M. (2011). The effect of Explicit Strategy Instruction on L2 Oral Production of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners: Focusing on Accuracy, Fluency and Complexity. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 2(5), 989-997.

Tiwaporn, K. (2016). The impact of teaching communication strategies on English speaking of engineering undergraduates. PASAA, 51, 39- 69.

Varadi, T. (1973). Strategies of Target Language Learner Communication: Message Adjustment. Paper presented at the Vlth Conference of the Rumanian- English Linguistics Project. Timisoara: Published in IRAL (1980), 75, 59- 71.

Weber, M. (1992). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. London: Routledge.