Strategic Competence

Discussant:
Princess Gambalan
Portem
Strategic Competence
-refers to a person’s ability to keep
communication going when there is
a communication breakdown or to
enhance the effectiveness of the
communication.
Example Strategies:
 Paraphrase
The learners uses an approximation in the form
of a structure or vocabulary item which s/he knows
is incorrect but will get the message across.
 Circumulocution
The learner describes/ defines the object or its
purpose or action.
 Transfer
The learner uses his or her native language,
translating word for word or not bothering to
translate at all.
Other strategies:
1. Asking for help
2. Mime
3. Pause tillers- use of ‘er, ‘um, you know, let
see, sort of etc.
4. Topic avoidance
5. Message abandonment- the learner simply
stops in mid- utterances, lacking the
proficiency to continue.