Interaction and Strategic Competence among Third Agers: Results of a Study

Abstract

The main aim set to this paper is to investigate the use of communication strategies by members of the Third Age University in Nowy Targ. The structure of a small-scale study, namely an information gap task performed in pair work, was primarily designed to promote cooperative behaviours and encourage real-life interaction. The results of a self-evaluation questionnaire indicate that, in a general sense, third agers appeared to be positive about their performance, and clearly admitted that speaking in pairs played an eminent role in second language communication. It has been demonstrated that third agers, despite a low proficiency level i.e. A1 and A2, were determined to complete the task, and achieve mutual goals. They tended to check their own accuracy, and seek for an interlocutor‘s confirmation during dyadic interaction. Also, some participants applied code switching to the third language, be it German as, apparently, it seemed to be more automatised in communicative contexts. In a similar vein, older adults used own-performance problem-related strategies, such as self-rephrasing, and self-repair in order to be more accurate and solve communication problems. Significantly, the strategy that helped the participants gain more time to process reactions was retrieval. Overall, it is worthwhile to mention that seniors appreciated interaction with their partners since pair cooperation encouraged them to communicate in English.