1. Communication strategies
Based on an article in the LLJ (2001) by Angela Gallagher Brett and added to somewhat…!

2. The importance of teaching…
Communication strategies are used ‘to repair breakdowns in spoken communication and to improve the effectiveness of communication’ (Gallagher-Brett, 2001, p. 53)

3. Possible categories of CS..
Avoidance
Paraphrase
Appeal for assistance
Mime

4. Probably not as effectively as they could….
Do learners use their strategic competence in their L1 to good effect in their L2?
Probably not as effectively as they could….
So we have to teach CS to highlight and accelerate the process

5. Non verbal communication strategies, the basics of social interaction!
There is much fun to be had here….be explicit!
Eye contact
Facial expressions
Nodding and shaking head
Hand gestures
Intonation

6. Verbal CS for beginners…
Some categories of CS difficult, e.g. paraphrase
So teach CS that allow them to initiate and maintain conversation…(use what you know, make the most of it in different contexts, gain time e.g. question forms to initiate, pause fillers to maintain and gain time, turn-taking phrases to get into conversations and include others)

7. Also teach
openers and closers
requests for help
requests for clarification
requests for repetition

8. and there’s more… Also teach how to prompt others
expressing agreement and disagreement
thanks and praise for previous speaker

9. How to build it into normal classroom practice…
Introduce
Model
Practise with reminders
Accumulate week by week
Create opportunities to practise with pair work, role-play, group talk, board and dice games etc.
Remind them again
Allow pupils to create personal favourite lists
Remind frequently …