Collaborative Dialogue and Second Language Learning

This talk will focus on our recent research designed to explore the role of collaborative dialogue in second language learning.

Collaborative dialogue is dialogue in which speakers are engaged in problem-solving and knowledge-building – in this case, solving linguistic problems and building knowledge about language. Our research has been conducted, in part, to demonstrate that collaborative dialogue provides opportunities for second language learning. The theoretical rationale for this expectation is based on the work of Vygotsky and others who argue that individual mental resources develop from collective behaviour.

These points will be illustrated with extended examples of students’ dialogue taken from a series of task-based studies we have recently conducted. The dialogue of students as they write a story, receive feedback about the language they used to write their story, and as they reflect on that feedback will be examined, and related to their post-test performance.

Although the second language learners discussed in this talk are students in grades 7 and 8 French immersion classes, there are implications of the research which are relevant to the teaching of adult learners in ESL and EFL learning contexts. These include issues about the use of pair work; the significant roles language production plays in second language learning; and the importance of learner agency and its connection with feedback.

Register to tell a friend about this lecture.

Comments

If you would like to comment about this lecture, please register here.

©2003-2006 Niminim Limited. Created by

Any ad revenue is entirely reinvested into the Lecture List's operating fund