Developing Interactional Competence through Authentic Conversations: Pedagogical Approaches and Effects

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Thursday, November 7, 2024
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Royce 243

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Interactional Competence (IC) has emerged as a significant focus in the field of second language acquisition research. Yet, pedagogical approaches designed to foster learners' IC are still in the early stages of development. This talk explores classroom pedagogy and assessment informed by research in IC and Conversation Analysis. By incorporating naturally occurring conversations as teaching materials, Dr. Yeh will present practical strategies for enhancing IC in L2 learners. Additionally, she will present findings from her research, showcasing the pedagogical impact on students' ability to utilize interactional resources, such as repair, turn-taking, and interactive listening.


Dr. Meng Yeh is a Teaching Professor at Center for Languages & Intercultural Communications, Rice University. She specializes in language pedagogy, assessment, curriculum design, and second language acquisition. Dr. Yeh co-authored several Chinese language textbooks for college and high school students. Her recent research focuses on developing innovative pedagogical approaches that enhance students’ interactional competence, pragmatic skills and reading literacy, while also assessing the effectiveness of these instructional approaches.

Sponsor(s): Center for Chinese Studies