A Model of Incorporating Other-Initiated Repair Strategies in Teaching Speaking to EFL Learners

Abstract

This paper aims at sharing ideas on how other-initiated repair strategies can be used in teaching
speaking to EFL learners. Other-Initiated Repair (henceforth OIR) is a concept in Conversation
Analysis (CA) theory which is defined as the treatment of trouble occurring in interactive talk
such as in speaking, hearing, or understanding. To set the context this paper will give a brief
overview of the application of Conversation Analysis, and OIR Strategies as an aspect of CA, in
second/foreign language learning and teaching. Different OIR strategies which are synthesized
from different studies and literature review will be presented. The final and major part of the
paper contains a suggested teaching model of how OIR strategies can be incorporated in
speaking class in order to enhance the EFL students’ fluency in speaking. The model, which is
based on Wong and Waring (2010) consists of three major steps, such as (a) awareness raising
activity; (b) practicing activities; and (c) variation activity, where each step comprises several
activities.