The Effect of Language Proficiency on Learners’ Use of Communication Strategies when Speaking English as a Foreign Language A Case Study: First and Third Year English Language Students at MMUTO
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Date
2015-09
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou
Abstract
This dissertation deals with the effect of language proficiency on the learners’ use of
communication strategies when speaking English as a target language. Its aim is to find out
whether first and third level EFL learners encounter speaking difficulties while
communicating and interacting with each other. In addition, it looks wether Appeal for
Assistance, Message Abandonment, Mime, Word Coinage, Approximation and Literal
Translation Communication Strategies (CSs) are relied on to overcome speaking problems
and succeeding to transmit the intended meaning. Proficiency level is taken into account to
know if it interferes in learners’ use of CSs. The sample of this investigation is made up of
first and third year LMD Algerian students of the English language. The present work is
conducted in the department of English at MMUTO. The research tools used in this study
are composed of classroom observation and audio-recording. Furthermore, this dissertation
is structured following IMRAD method, the two research methodologies (Qualitative and
quantitative) are employed to present and analyze the data obtained. Tarone’s interactional
approach and her typology of conscious communication strategies is adopted to interpret
the results. The findings gained show that the two previously mentioned proficiency levels
meet speaking difficulties, more precisely lexical gaps. In addition, the six CSs selected in
this study are used but in distinct frequencies. Finally, proficiency level has a considerable
effect on learners’ use of CSs. The conclusion to be drawn from these findings is that
despite the speaking problems that first and third year students face, they have succeeded
in transmitting the intended meaning with the help of the communication strategies.
Moreover, learners possess some linguistic knowledge that allows them to employ the CSs.
Description
66p.:ill;30cm.(+cd)
Keywords
English as a foreign language; Speaking; communication strategies; language proficiency.
Citation
Language and Communication