Effects of communication mode on EFL learners’ engagement and request learning

This study examines how different communication modes (two kinds of computer-mediated communication and face-to-face mode) influence EFL learners’ engagement during a collaborative writing task and its impact on subsequent request learning outcomes, measured by sociopragmatic and pragmalinguistic co...

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Main Authors: Zhiqi Shen, Cuiling Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1454387/full
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author Zhiqi Shen
Cuiling Cheng
author_facet Zhiqi Shen
Cuiling Cheng
author_sort Zhiqi Shen
collection DOAJ
description This study examines how different communication modes (two kinds of computer-mediated communication and face-to-face mode) influence EFL learners’ engagement during a collaborative writing task and its impact on subsequent request learning outcomes, measured by sociopragmatic and pragmalinguistic competence. Ninety-six high school English learners were assigned to groups for text-based chat, audio chat, and face-to-face interactions to complete a collaborative writing task in pairs. Two versions of the Written Discourse Completion Test (WDCT) were employed as pre-tests and post-tests to assess and compare the learning outcomes in request-making across the three groups. Cognitive and social engagement of learners were assessed by using multiple measures derived from chat logs and recordings, while a post-task questionnaire was utilized to gauge emotional engagement during the task. The results indicated that learners in the face-to-face and audio-chat conditions demonstrated higher levels of cognitive engagement compared to the text-chat group. The text-chat group reported fewer instances of negative emotions. In terms of request learning outcomes, all groups showed an increase in sociolinguistic appropriateness; however, no significant differences were found in overall pragmalinguistic competence. Social and emotional engagement significantly correlated with sociopragmatic improvement in the audio-chat mode, yet these indicators did not demonstrate significant predictive power.
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spelling doaj-art-85fb8ea5c8444b69b35880c2689fbdb02024-11-08T11:17:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2024-11-01910.3389/feduc.2024.14543871454387Effects of communication mode on EFL learners’ engagement and request learningZhiqi ShenCuiling ChengThis study examines how different communication modes (two kinds of computer-mediated communication and face-to-face mode) influence EFL learners’ engagement during a collaborative writing task and its impact on subsequent request learning outcomes, measured by sociopragmatic and pragmalinguistic competence. Ninety-six high school English learners were assigned to groups for text-based chat, audio chat, and face-to-face interactions to complete a collaborative writing task in pairs. Two versions of the Written Discourse Completion Test (WDCT) were employed as pre-tests and post-tests to assess and compare the learning outcomes in request-making across the three groups. Cognitive and social engagement of learners were assessed by using multiple measures derived from chat logs and recordings, while a post-task questionnaire was utilized to gauge emotional engagement during the task. The results indicated that learners in the face-to-face and audio-chat conditions demonstrated higher levels of cognitive engagement compared to the text-chat group. The text-chat group reported fewer instances of negative emotions. In terms of request learning outcomes, all groups showed an increase in sociolinguistic appropriateness; however, no significant differences were found in overall pragmalinguistic competence. Social and emotional engagement significantly correlated with sociopragmatic improvement in the audio-chat mode, yet these indicators did not demonstrate significant predictive power.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1454387/fullcomputer-mediated communication (CMC)face-to-face communicationlearners’ engagementrequest learningcollaborative writing task
spellingShingle Zhiqi Shen
Cuiling Cheng
Effects of communication mode on EFL learners’ engagement and request learning
Frontiers in Education
computer-mediated communication (CMC)
face-to-face communication
learners’ engagement
request learning
collaborative writing task
title Effects of communication mode on EFL learners’ engagement and request learning
title_full Effects of communication mode on EFL learners’ engagement and request learning
title_fullStr Effects of communication mode on EFL learners’ engagement and request learning
title_full_unstemmed Effects of communication mode on EFL learners’ engagement and request learning
title_short Effects of communication mode on EFL learners’ engagement and request learning
title_sort effects of communication mode on efl learners engagement and request learning
topic computer-mediated communication (CMC)
face-to-face communication
learners’ engagement
request learning
collaborative writing task
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1454387/full
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AT cuilingcheng effectsofcommunicationmodeonefllearnersengagementandrequestlearning