Interaktion som mål och medel i FinTandem - Vaasan yliopisto

Publisher Date of publication
Vaasan yliopisto August 2011
Author(s) Type of publication
Katri Karjalainen
Monograph
Name and number of series
Acta Wasaensia, 244
Contact information ISBN
University of Vaasa
Department of Scandinavian Languages
P.O. Box 700
FI–65101 Vaasa
e-mail katri.karjalainen@uwasa.fi
978–952–476–354–7
ISSN
0355–2667, 1235–791X
Number Language
of pages
244 Swedish
Title of publication
Interaction as aim and means in FinTandem – Strategies and orientation within
problems in speech production
Abstract
The purpose of my study was to examine how second language users apply communication
strategies (CS) to solve problems in language production, and how
this creates opportunities for language learning. I approached these questions by
studying tagged CSs and by discussing their potential as learning strategies (LS).
In addition I observed how learners, while using CSs, orientate themselves towards
three dimensions of language skills: fluency, accuracy and complexity.
My data consisted of 24 audio recordings (c. 21 hours) of 8 FinTandem dyads
using Finnish–Swedish. The primary informants were Finnish learners of Swedish.
Informants recorded themselves on three occasions during the academic year
2006–2007. I excerpted and transcribed sequences in which learners indicated
problems in language production in order to identify different CSs and LSs and
to examine which expressions caused these problems.
Problematic situations in my data concerned mainly lexicon and phrases while
e.g. syntax was not problematic and thus not an objective for metalinguistic discussion.
The study indicates that discussing a subject matter over a longer time
period led to natural repetition of the topical expressions, which in turn provided
concentration on different aspects and dimensions. Problems in language production
were solved mainly by using intralingual CSs, which indicated learners’ aim
to stick to the target language. However, there was though a difference between
the two informant groups, with informants of working age using more interlingual
CSs than students, who tended to base CSs extensively on the target language.
Discussions on different subjects include digressions where problems in
language production lead to explicit focus on language and on the different dimensions.
Digressions always end in informants returning to the original subject
matter. Hence, interaction in FinTandem is both a means for learning and an aim
in itself.
Keywords
second language acquisition, tandem learning, language production, communication
strategy, learning strategy, fluency, accuracy, complexity
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