Premium
Teaching Discussion Skills: A Pragmatic Approach
Author(s) -
Kramsch Claire J.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1944-9720.1981.tb01618.x
Subject(s) - conversation , german , rhetorical question , psychology , emphasis (telecommunications) , conversation analysis , linguistics , pedagogy , computer science , communication , telecommunications , philosophy
The emphasis on real communication in the classroom calls for a reevaluation of the student's role and needs as conversational partner. This article explores the verbal and behavioral strategies needed to participate with ease and confidence in conversation. Observation and analysis of seminar‐type discussions between native speakers and listeners serve as a basis for a tentative classification of discussion functions and their rhetorical markers. The article gives suggestions for applying these observations to the teaching of discussion skills in both French and German classes.