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Language Learning Through Interaction

What Role Does Gender Play?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2008

Teresa Pica
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
Lloyd Holliday
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
Nora Lewis
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
Dom Berducci
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
Jeanne Newman
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

This investigation of NS–NNS interaction in same- and cross-gender dyads on four information exchange tasks revealed that male and female NNSs made and received a comparable number of opportunities to request L2 input and modify interlanguage output during interaction with female NSs, but during interaction with male NSs, these opportunities were significantly lower for female than for male NNSs. In addition, more request-response exchanges were found on tasks in which either the NS or the NNS was given initial control over task-related information. Findings of the study were attributed to cultural similarities and differences in the interactional behaviors of the participants.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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