Communication strategies Based on an article in the

Communication strategies Based on an article in the LLJ (2001) by Angela Gallagher Brett and added to somewhat…!

The importance of teaching… • Communication strategies are used ‘to repair breakdowns in spoken communication and to improve the effectiveness of communication’ (Gallagher-Brett, 2001, p. 53)

Possible categories of CS. . • • Avoidance Paraphrase Appeal for assistance Mime

Do learners use their strategic competence in their L 1 to good effect in their L 2? • Probably not as effectively as they could…. • So we have to teach CS to highlight and accelerate the process

Non verbal communication strategies, the basics of social interaction! There is much fun to be had here…. be explicit! • Eye contact • Facial expressions • Nodding and shaking head • Hand gestures • Intonation

Verbal CS for beginners… • Some categories of CS difficult, e. g. paraphrase • So teach CS that allow them to initiate and maintain conversation…(use what you know, make the most of it in different contexts, gain time e. g. question forms to initiate, pause fillers to maintain and gain time, turn-taking phrases to get into conversations and include others)

Also teach • openers and closers • requests for help • requests for clarification • requests for repetition

and there’s more… Also teach • how to prompt others • expressing agreement and disagreement • thanks and praise for previous speaker

How to build it into normal classroom practice… Introduce Model Practise with reminders Accumulate week by week Create opportunities to practise with pair work, role-play, group talk, board and dice games etc. • Remind them again • Allow pupils to create personal favourite lists • Remind frequently … • • •