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Patterns of Interaction in ESL Pair Work
Author(s) -
Storch Neomy
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
language learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.882
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1467-9922
pISSN - 0023-8333
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9922.00179
Subject(s) - psychology , longitudinal study , social relation , language acquisition , second language , developmental psychology , cognition , second language acquisition , linguistics , cognitive psychology , social psychology , mathematics education , neuroscience , statistics , philosophy , mathematics
This study investigated the nature of dyadic interaction in an adult ESL classroom. The study was longitudinal, classroom based, and examined the nature of interaction between 10 pairs of adult ESL students over a range of language tasks and over time (a semester). Four distinct patterns of dyadic interaction were found. These patterns are distinguishable in terms of equality and mutuality (Damon & Phelps, 1989). More importantly, the findings suggest that certain patterns of dyadic interaction are more conducive than others to language learning. These findings are explained by reference to Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development.