What are conversation strategies and why teach them?

In this chapter, the author aims to explain the theoretical basis of this book. In doing so, there is a need to look at several key areas. He starts by defining conversation strategies and showing how they differ from and are related to more generalised communication strategies. Next, he defines communicative competence (Hymes, 1972) and shows why this theory should still provide an important basis for developing the teaching of conversation within a communicative teaching framework, whichever precise form that takes. Following this, he explores why we might teach conversation strategies as a means of helping to develop communicative competence. Finally, he gives one brief example of how this might look in the classroom.

Conclusion

The intention in this final chapter is to draw the findings of this book together and suggest what the implications might be in terms of both teaching and possible future research. This chapter begins by giving four implications for teaching and then four for research before briefly listing some limitations of this book and then offering a final word.