JLTA Journal
Online ISSN : 2189-9746
Print ISSN : 2189-5341
ISSN-L : 2189-5341
Profiling the Development of a Japanese EFL Learner’s Interactional Competence: A Dynamic Assessment of Requesting-in-Interaction
Allan NICHOLAS
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JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2018 Volume 21 Pages 42-64

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Abstract
Speech act assessments have typically not focused on interaction, with instruments such as discourse completion tasks not capturing lengthy sequences of talk. Further, assessments typically focus on current independent performance. Dynamic assessment (DA) offers an alternative, assessing both current learner performance and future potential, while also promoting development. By applying DA through dynamically-administered strategic interaction scenarios (D-SIS)―an open role-play type task―multiple turns of talk can be captured, allowing assessment of interactional competence. This study profiles a single learner to investigate the effectiveness of DA in assessing and developing interactional competence in relation to the requesting speech act. The 20-year old, intermediate level participant was a second-year student at a Japanese university, enrolled in an intercultural communication program. Researcher and participant engaged in an eight-week developmental-experimental DA of requesting-in-interaction. Analysis here focuses on the DA phases of the study, in which the researcher and participant collaborated on D-SIS tasks. When the participant struggled, mediation was provided in order for the task to proceed. Mediation was analyzed, assessing the efficiency with which the participant both identified the object (problem) of mediation, and resolved the issue. A coding scheme was used to quantify learner development, in conjunction with a qualitative analysis of transcript data. Results showed evidence of learner development in regards to request turn directness, pre-requesting and pre-closing aspects of conversation, requiring less mediation, and less explicit mediation types over time. The findings provide support for the use of DA in assessing and developing interactional competence in EFL contexts.
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この記事はクリエイティブ・コモンズ [表示 - 非営利 - 改変禁止 4.0 国際]ライセンスの下に提供されています。
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.ja
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