Pragmatics in the EFL ClassroomAn introduction

Jerry Talandis Jr. University of Toyama

Today

1 What is pragmatics?

2 Introducing pragmatics to students

3 Principles worth teaching

4 Ideas for review & assessment

5 Resources

Theory

Practice

Part 1What is pragmatics?

語用論ごようろん

The study of social language use

“The secret rules of language”

“I like to say that pragmatics is the study of how-to-say-what-to-

whom-when, and that L2 pragmatics is the study of how learners come to know how-to-

say-what-to-whom-when.” Bardovi-Harlig, 2009

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Bardovi-Harlig, K. & Mehan-Taylor, R. (2009). Teaching pragmatics. English Teaching Forum 2003(41:3).

Pragmatics

speech acts

discourse organization

sociolinguistics

conversational structure

implicature

management

Pragmatics deals with...

1 Using language for different purposes

2 Changing language according to the needs of the situation

3 Following rules for conversations

2012 (Nov. 17). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Social Language Use. http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/pragmatics.htm

1 Using language

Greetings (hello, good-bye)

1 Using language

Informing (I’m going to get a cookie now)

1 Using language

Requesting (I would like a cookie please)

1 Using language

Demanding (Give me a cookie!)

1 Using language

Promising (I will give you a cookie soon)

2: Changing language

It’s normal to talk differently to different people!

•Children & adults

•Sempai & kohai

•Friends & strangers

•Family & co-workers

3: Following Rules

Turn takingIntroducing topics

3: Following Rules

Dealing with breakdowns

Using verbal & non-verbal signalsUse of body language

Why Bother?

Pragmatic rules vary across and within cultures

Why Bother?

Pragmatic awareness helps students improve communication

and avoid problems

Introducing pragmatics to students

Part 2

Showing VS

Telling

WHY IS DIALOG 2 BETTER?

・longer answers

・more natural

・more details

・no silence

・friendlier

What is pragmatics?

語用論ごようろん

How to be friendly in another language

What is a

conversation?

The 4 parts

of a conversation

4 Parts of a good conversation

Part Purpose

1 Opening Closing

Frames the interaction; Start & end smoothly

2 Questions Open & Closed

3 Answers Various lengths

4 Pragmatics Provides energy, facilitates exchange of meaning

Go over the 4 parts

Part 3Which principles are worth teaching?

Which way is better?

Conversation strategies“Golden rules”

The Golden

Rules

Richmond, S. & Vannieu, B. (2009). Conversations in Class. Kyoto: Alma Publishing.

DiscussionWhat’s happening?

Different interpretations of silence

Japan Western cultures

“I can’t answer you.” “I’m bored & don’t care.”

“Please ask someone else.” “I don’t like you.”

“I’m thinking.” “I don’t respect your authority.”

Golden Rule 1Don’t remain silent for more

than a few seconds(Say something quickly)

What would you say is your favorite class at the moment?

Teacher:

I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Student:

Okay. What’s your favorite class now?Teacher:

Oh! It’s English, for sure!Student:

You don’t understand anything the speaker says1

You need the speaker to repeat what was said

So, Taro, wachagonnadothisweekend? Teacher:

Pardon? Student:

What are you going to do this weekend?Teacher:

Oh, I’m going out with some friends.Student:

2

You can’t Understand a difficult word or phrase

How many electives are you taking now?

Teacher:

Um… What does “electives” mean?Student:

It’s a course that you choose.Teacher:

I see. I’m taking three electives now.Student:

3

You don’t know how to answer a question

What does your father do? Teacher:

Ah… How do you say “bengoshi” in English?Student:

Oh, it’s “lawyer.”Teacher:

Yes. He is a lawyer. Student:

4

DiscussionWhat’s happening?

In front of a groupWhen meeting someone new

When speaking to a sempai

Being modestAllowing other person to lead

You are showing respect

Two Ways of finding Common ground

Which way is better?

Golden Rule 2

Add one or two extra pieces of information to your answers(+alpha answers)

Answer Implicit Questions暗黙の質問

“Yes, I love it. Maguro is my favorite.”(+alpha)

DiscussionWhat looks different about

this conversation?

Golden Rule 3

It’s natural to sometimes talk about yourself

Listen first, talk secondDo you play any sports?A:

B: Yes, I play soccer after school.GR 2

Do you play any sports?A: B: Yes, I play soccer after school.GR 3

Oh yeah? I used to play in HS.A: (reaction) (+alpha comment)

(+ alpha)

StrategiesConversation

Which are best to teach?So many choices...

Ideas for review & assessmentPart 4

Review & Assessment are vital

•Writing, listening, and noticing tasks

•Dialog writing test

•Speaking test

Practice with a Writing Activity

Use fewer Questions

Skip the Questions!

NoticingtaskCan you find the Golden Rules?

Yes, I play soccer everyday after school. GR2

Really? I love soccer, too! I use to play a lot in junior high school, but not any more. GR3

How do you say 「アルバイト」in English? GR1

NoticingtaskCan you find the Golden Rules?

Pair dictation✂

️

Embed in listening exercises

Recording Transcribing Noticing

Compare before・afterrecordings

Pair dialog writing test

Pair speaking

test

Richmond, S. & Vannieu, B. (2009). Conversations in Class. Kyoto: Alma Publishing.

•1:1 time with teacher is motivational

•Less pressure for beginners

•Gently encourages student initiative

Alternative interviewPros

•Can be tricky to mark

•Impractical with large or unruly classes

Alternative interview

Cons

•1:1 time with teacher is motivational

•Encourages more student initiative

Question the teacherPros

•Takes too long to evaluate everyone

•Hard sometimes to let students lead

•Can be tricky to mark

Question the teacherCons

•Encourages teamwork

•Less time to evaluate everyone

•Easier to mark

•Enables more sophistication

Prepareddialog

Pros

•Performance rather than real conversation

Prepareddialog

Cons

•Encourages teamwork

•Less time to evaluate everyone

•Enables more actual conversation

3 Person conversationPros

•Can be tricky to mark

3 Person conversationCons

Markingschemes

Part 5Resources

Nice Talking with youTom Kenny Linda Woo

Cambridge

Nice Talking with youTom Kenny Linda Woo

Cambridge

By The WayMichael Hensley Bill Burns

Macmillan LanguageHouse

Jazz English

Gunther Breaux

Compass Publishing

Conversations in classStephen Richmond Bruno Vannieu

Alma Publishing

PragtivitiesJim Ronald, Carol Rinnert, Kenneth Fordyce, Tim Knight (Eds.)

JALT Pragmatics SIG

SummaryPragmatics:

“The study of how to be friendly in English”

SummaryAddresses practical aspects of

successful communication

SummaryA veritable gold mine

of ideas and possibilities

SummaryA little goes a long way

SummaryNo need for wholesale changes to

your teaching style

SummaryContinuous review & assessment

needed for long-term gains

SummaryContact the JALT PragSIG for more info

pragsig.org