What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to understand why some Japanese students struggle to engage in social communication during group discussions in English.

April 4, 2026Open Access

Pressure to be Silent : Examining Social Reticence in L2 English Discussion Groups

Key Points

The aim is to understand why some Japanese students struggle to engage in social communication during group discussions in English.
Analyzed data from a teaching journal reflecting on student interaction
Focused on social language output in group versus paired activities
Referenced motivation theories to explain students' behaviors
Identified barriers to social language production in group settings
Noted that students were more communicative in paired activities
Suggested interventions for enhancing group discussions in future classes

Abstract

This paper discusses data collected as part of a teaching journal started to reflect on the below average output in terms of phatic, or social, language in group discussions by some Japanese students in the second semester of a university course in English discussion.Theories on motivation are referenced to attempt to explain how an inability to bond may produce a barrier to the production of social language in groups that does not exist in paired activities involving the same individuals.Finally, suggestions are made as to how classes with similar issues could be approached in the future. Content:Ideas or comments about the topic for discussion Reactions: Verbal utterances made in response to classmates' ideas e.g.'Uh-huh.' / 'I see.'

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