L2 English Learners' Performance in Persuasion Role-Plays

Abstract

Using persuasion role-play data, this study examined the features of the persuasion by Japanese learners of English (JLE). The quantitative and qualitative comparisons between the JLE and the English native speakers (ENS) showed that (1) the JLE took turns 16–26% less and spoke 8–35% less, and they did not speak more than the interviewers; (2) they used first/second-person pronouns 19-86% less; (3) they overused fillers and “want,” while they underused hedges, second-person pronouns, amplifiers, and semi-prefabricated phrases; and (4) they were divided into three subgroups (novice, lower-intermediate, and upper-intermediate) in terms of the use of high-frequency words, and the novice learners were characterized by talking about themselves, the lower-intermediate learners by generalizing their claims, and the upper-intermediate learners by making their persuasion more effective by utilizing their lexical and grammatical knowledge. These findings could be utilized for the development of new teaching materials and curriculums to enhance L2 learners' persuasion skills.