Exchange patterns in the oral discourse of international students in university classrooms

The oral discourse of four university teaching contexts (lectures, laboratories, writing classes, and writing conferences) was examined for the incidence of exchange patterns. Exchange patterns are regularly occurring combinations of speakers’ discourse moves (such as statements, questions, responses), which form topical or functional units. Although previous classroom discourse analysis has stressed three‐part exchanges, a focus of analysis in this article is on the incidence of two‐part as well as three‐part exchanges. A specific focus is on how non‐native speakers of English participate in academic exchanges. Participants were international students (ISs), recorded as they interacted with teachers and fellow students (other ISs and native speakers of English). Results show the participation of the ISs in two‐ and three‐part exchanges (as well as longer exchanges) in the four academic contexts. The move structures of exchange patterns are also examined in the academic contexts. Findings contribute to the understanding of basic organizational principles of academic oral interaction and add to our knowledge of how university students participate in academic discourse.