Conversational competence can help the acquirer gain more Comprehensible Input.
Techniques that increase input quantity
- Memorizing routines for starting a conversation, and use some fillers (e.g., “um”, “uh”, “well”, “you know”, “I mean”, “let me see”).
Miguel: Hi! How are ya? NS: Okay. Miguel: What’s new? NS: Not much. Had a test today. Miguel: Oh that’s too bad. What test?
Techniques that make input more comprehensible
- Asking the native speaker for help (Focussing on a single problem word by repeating it and utterances such as “What?”, or “I don’t understand”)
NS: Salvador Dali also put out a cookbook because he is a great expert on cuisine. Miguel: (looking confused): Cookbook? NS: (picking up a cookbook): Recipes from Maxime’s, places like that.
- Provide evidence that the conversational partner is following the conversation.
- Changing the subject to something easier to understand or more familiar
NS: … I like classical music too—Beethoven, Schubert—you know that kinda stuff. Miguel: You play the piano? Joe: Yeah. Miguel: Me too.