A Mixed-Methods Study of Computer-Mediated Communication Paired With Instruction on EFL Learners' Pragmatic Competence

Abstract

The use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) has been growing as an approach to facilitating second/foreign language (L2/FL) acquisition. Existing literature adopting CMC has investigated the efficacy of various devices (e.g., blogs, emails). However, few studies have explored the potential advantages of augmenting CMC-based learning with instruction. This study investigated the impact of CMC paired with instruction on EFL learners' pragmatic competence. Sixty-five Chinese EFL students were divided into two groups; the experimental group engaged in CMC with native English speakers and received instruction in compliment responses (CRs), while the control group had CMC without intervention. Result from an independent samples t-test indicated a significant difference between groups for properly using CRs, favoring the experimental group (p = .023). Furthermore, findings from interviews showed that cognitive load, teachers, and pragmatic knowledge affect EFL learners' pragmatic behaviors. Implications are discussed.