ISSUES INVOLVED IN TEACHING
SPOKEN INTERACTION TO ADULT
EFL LEARNERS
Author: Santa Ezergaile

Background of the Research
Speaking
Interaction
Prosody

The following hypothesis has been proposed:
spoken interaction tasks that focus on prosody are
acknowledged in theoretical studies but neglected in EFL
textbooks.

Goal
To investigate at what extent New Headway Students Book
focuses on spoken interaction and prosody.

Enabling
Objectives
Theoretical Analysis
of the Issues
Draw Relevant
Conclusions
from the
Evidence Collected
Investigation of
the Textbook
(Soars Liz & John,
2003, New Headway
Students Book)

Novelty of the research:
An authentic model for the research was made as the two-
dimensional focus of the textbook analysis.
There is a practical significance of the research. Teachers,
learners, as well as textbook developers can benefit from the
study.

Research Methods
a case study
quantitative
analysis

Skills
speaking; 164;
48%
listening; 95;
28%
writing; 32; 9%
reading; 53;
15%
speaking
listening
writing
reading

Only 4 % are prosody-based exercises
Spoken tasks
40; 25%
7; 4%
52; 32%
19; 12%
38; 23%
7; 4%
asking/answering the
questions
intonation /stress
conversations
discussions
talking (oral
presentation)
role plays

No convincing data that prosody is integrated into the tasks of
the New Headway Student’s Book was found during the
research.

1) asking and answering the
questions; 2) conversation
exercises, 3) discussions
(based mostly on grammar
issues).
There is lack of role-playing
activities - only 7 tasks.
Spoken interaction
40; 25%
52; 31%
19; 12%
7; 4%
45; 28%
asking/answering the questions
conversations
discussions
role plays
spoken presentation

Challenges
multiple-skill or multiple-competence training

In conclusion, the hypothesis has been proved. The clash
between the theory and practice was revealed. Also an in-depth
analysis of a multi-facated problem was done.
The research has to be continued by carrying out research of
other EFL textbooks available in the market.

Thank you for your attention!