Iraqi EFL University Students’ Use of Communication Strategies in Written Performance

Abstract

The aim of this study is to discover the kinds of communication strategies (CSs) used by high, intermediate, and low proficient Iraqi EFL students in written performance. For the purpose of this study, 47 Iraqi EFL students who are studying English at Al-Yarmouk University College and College of Basic Education/ University of Diyala. Those students have divided into three groups (high, intermediate, low) based on their language proficiency level. To collect the data from participants, they have been asked to write a 100-word argumentative essay. The essay topic is: The influence of Facebook on Iraqi younger generation. The data have been analyzed qualitatively using Rabab’ah’s taxonomy of CSs (2001). The results of this study have revealed that the participants have used some of the CSs which have existed in the taxonomy of Rabab’ah. Additionally, they have used 3 other strategies which have not existed in this taxonomy. The results have showed that the language proficiency has direct effect on the use and choice of CSs in the written performance. Based on the results of this study and the researcher experience in the field of CSs, he has proposed taxonomy of written CSs to be used by learners and other researchers.