12. International engineering graduate students’ interactional patterns on a paired speaking test

Abstract

This study examines interactional patterns between English language learners from different first language backgrounds on a collaborative speaking task from the Business English Certificates, a standardized test often used to screen prospective employees for their English language proficiency at international companies. Peer interactions of 84 international engineering graduate students, categorized using Galaczi’s (2008) interactional typology, were examined in relation to individual interlocutors’ target language use in daily life, oral proficiency level, and perceptions of their performance on the task. Results showed that collaborative pairs were the most positive overall about the quality of their interactions. Conversely, dominant members of unevenly matched (asymmetric) pairs rated their interactional success and their ability to understand and be understood by their partner most negatively.