Term

2013

Capstone

Restricted Access Thesis

Degree Name

MAESL

Abstract

Non-native speakers (NNSs) who are studying English in an English-speaking environment need to make requests in English every day to get what they want or need. In order to avoid embarrassing communication breakdown in request-making situations, NNSs need to learn to use language that is appropriate for the situation or social context. This research study suggests that by receiving direct online teaching about the topic of pragmatics, NNSs can improve their knowledge of ways to make requests in a pragmatically appropriate manner and can gain confidence in their ability to make pragmatically appropriate requests. Teachers and administrators should consider online direct teaching of pragmatics as a part of an ESL curriculum to help NNSs learn how to appropriately perform speech acts. By receiving online direct teaching about pragmatics, NNSs can maintain positive relationships and continue to achieve language success.

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