“Maybe You Misunderstood What I Was Saying:” Learning the Unwritten Rules of English Communication

Learning the written grammar and pronunciation rules of second language is hard; learning theunwritten rules about social norms of how to use the language appropriately with different audiences is even harder. Learners of all languages tend to have difficulty understanding the intended meaning communicated by speech acts such as apologies, greetings, requests, or complaints, or producing a speech act in an appropriate manner. However, having explicit instruction on speech acts can help learners to improve their performance of speech acts and thus their interactions with native speakers. This fun and interactive workshop will help attendees gain an understanding of what speech acts are, and effective ways to use them in academic, professional, and personal settings. Sponsored by Minnesota English Learning Program with the Graduate School