TEACHING CONVERSATION STRATEGIES: HOW LEARNERS DEVELOP TURN-TAKING AND REPAIR TECHNIQUES
Abstract
This article explores the development of conversation strategies among language learners, with a particular focus on turn-taking and repair techniques—two essential components of effective communication. Drawing on both theoretical frameworks and classroom-based observations, the study examines how learners acquire, practice, and internalize these strategies in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. Turn-taking involves the orderly exchange of speaking turns, while repair strategies allow speakers to address misunderstandings or correct errors in real-time conversation. The article highlights the role of explicit instruction, peer interaction, and authentic communicative tasks in fostering these skills. Through practical examples and activity designs, it demonstrates how structured practice in turn management and self- or other-initiated repair can significantly improve learners' fluency, confidence, and communicative competence. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating conversation strategies into language curricula to better prepare students for real-world interaction.
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