Communicative strategies to cope with the difficulties to speak english in a Colombian Public University

Abstract

Communicative strategies can be used to cope with the problems arising in the oral interactions in a classroom. This study sets out two objectives: To identify the most frequently used strategies by college students to cope with oral communication difficulties in English; and to describe the differences in use frequency regarding these strategies between both levels and genders. This research is conducted as a descriptive quantitative approach, cross-sectional, among a population of 542 students. Strategies most frequently used by this sample include: an attempt to think in English, and shortening and changing the meaning. A difference was found between both levels regarding the strategies intended to make messages appropriate. On the other hand, men use more frequently social-affective strategies while women use more frequently the strategy to discard the message.