Social
Interaction in EFL Classrooms
Yanti Wirza
In the era of communicative language teaching, interaction serves as the heart of communication. As English language teachers, we dream to see that our students are capable of using English successfully in situations in which they need and are required to use it. The ability to communicate in English as the international language in specific situations is one of the most basic criteria for the students to have to survive in this world. Therefore, we have to ensure that the students can learn to the maximum level of what they can get in the classroom. Every session is important, it is the right time and place for the students to absorb every relevant knowledge and experience; and it is our duty to help them to learn. Nevertheless, how? This study is aimed to portrait the social interaction in three high schools which were purposely selected from the categories of good/favorite, middle/average, and low. The social interaction that naturally occurred in those classes under investigation is analyzed from the view point of Vygotskian theory of “Social Constructivism”. The research reveals some unexpected findings related to what actually happened in those classrooms.
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Wirza, Y. (2003, October). Social interaction in EFL
classrooms. Paper presented at the 51st TEFLIN International
Conference,
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