Interactional Competence of Low-intermediate EFL Learners in a Cultural Exchange Conversation Task with Non-Thai English Speakers

บทคัดย่อ

     Interactional competence has received much attention recently as it is considered imperative for effective spoken communication between interlocutors, and especially for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This study examined interactional features of low-intermediate Thai EFL learners which were employed as they engaged in a cultural exchange conversation task with foreigners. The prompts used in this classroom assessment task served as the instruments that yielded data in the form of audio recorded conversations, transcriptions and learner reflections of their conversations. Conversation analysis
and quantitative analysis of the conversational data revealed four ‘basic conversational actions’ underlying 12 interactional features displayed. Findings suggested the possibility of basic interactional competence (Kecskes et al., 2018) contributing to the actualization of some of the exchanges, as the EFL participants were able to utilize interactional features to interact with their foreign counterparts despite their language limitations. Thematic analysis of learners’ written reflections on their conversations provided insights into their perceptions in relation to the interactional features used in their conversations. Similar cultural
exchange conversations are recommended, as these types of tasks can elicit facets of interactional competence carried out in authentic contexts; however, they should be carried out as low-stakes assessment tasks. Engaging in a conversation with foreigners allows EFL learners to exercise their communicative agencies and interactional skills, given that proper scaffolding is carried out prior to the task. Including interactional features as constructs on a scoring rubric for such a conversation task may be possible with careful design and validation, and with reminders for learners to approach the task with the four underlying conversational actions in mind for a successful conversation