Interactional Practices and Normative Expectations in EFL Classrooms: A Conversation Analysis Approach to Turn-Taking

Abstract

This study explores the interactional practices and normative expectations of teachers and students in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom, with a focus on turn-taking and conversational dynamics. Addressing a gap in understanding how institutional norms shape classroom interactions, the research employs Conversation Analysis (CA) as its methodological framework, emphasizing the systematic organization of talk-in-interaction. Data were collected from two recorded classroom sessions, including one conducted at the American Language Center in Rabat, Morocco, and another source from a publicly available YouTube video. The transcriptions, adhering to Jefferson’s (1988) system, were analyzed to uncover patterns of turn-taking, repair initiators, and backchanneling in teacher-student exchanges. The findings reveal that teachers use strategies such as other-initiated self-repair, scaffolding, and missing units to guide student contributions while managing conversational flow. Additionally, students demonstrated clear expectations for feedback, often signaled through transition relevance places. These practices underline the collaborative nature of EFL classroom interactions and the critical role of teachers in fostering language learning. The study highlights the pedagogical value of interactional competence and offers insights for improving teacher training and classroom engagement strategies.