English Communication Strategies Used by Undergraduate Students at Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya During Practical Training

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) compare the communication strategies used by undergraduate students before and after practical training 2) compare the communication strategies used by undergraduate students between high and low English proficiency group before and after practical training 3) compare the communication strategies used by undergraduate students before and after practical training between high and low English proficiency group. The participants were 112 fourth year students majoring in English for International Communication at Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya and were selected by purposive sampling technique. Nakatani’s Oral Communication Strategy Inventory (OCSI) (2006), semi-structure interview about problem solving of English communication and English communication strategies were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage), dependent and independent sample t-test, and content analysis were applied to analyze the data.

The results of the study showed that 1) negotiation for meaning while listening was the most frequently reported while message abandonment was the least frequently reported speaking and listening strategies both before and after practical training 2) There were no significant differences occurred of the OCSI responses before practical training among two English proficiency group whereas after practical training, high English proficiency student reporting significantly higher use of social affective, fluency-oriented, fluency-maintaining, and scanning strategies than low English proficiency student. 3) High English proficiency students reporting significantly higher use of social affective, accuracy-oriented, nonverbal strategies while speaking, and scanning strategies after practical training whereas low English proficiency student reporting significantly lower use of attempt to think in English strategies after practical training.