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A Dissertation by GRACE HUI-CHIN LIN Submitted to the Office of ...

A Dissertation by GRACE HUI-CHIN LIN Submitted to the Office of ...

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Ling Mei Fang<br />

seemed that we did not pay any attention <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs or ignore <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs. In<br />

my learning experience, if my partner used this strategy <strong>to</strong>ward me, I may<br />

misunderstand that he despised me while I was talking.<br />

After 5 weeks training, Ling Mei expressed that she would not use <strong>to</strong>pic<br />

avoidance. After 10 weeks training, she changed her mind a little bit, and conveyed<br />

that <strong>to</strong>pic avoidance was a strategy that she had <strong>to</strong> learn. In both interviews, Ling Mei<br />

explained why “keeping silence” would be ineffectual. After 10 weeks training, Ling<br />

Mei had different perceptions <strong>to</strong>ward <strong>the</strong> “<strong>to</strong>pic avoidance” strategy:<br />

Topic avoidance was usable even if it was not a perfect strategy. Some <strong>to</strong>pics<br />

needed <strong>to</strong> be avoided in order <strong>to</strong> make <strong>the</strong> communication continue. My<br />

reasons were: some <strong>to</strong>pics were <strong>to</strong>o arduous <strong>to</strong> discuss and some <strong>to</strong>pics<br />

related <strong>to</strong> your privacy were ones that you did not wish <strong>to</strong> continue.<br />

Ling Mei pointed out that when using <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>pic avoidance strategy, politeness became<br />

a significant issue.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> class, we could be allowed <strong>to</strong> use <strong>the</strong> strategy <strong>of</strong> <strong>to</strong>pic avoidance <strong>to</strong><br />

practice English conversation because it helped us keep talking and talking<br />

with our limited pr<strong>of</strong>iciency. However, we needed <strong>to</strong> be more polite when<br />

changing <strong>to</strong>pics for our international interlocu<strong>to</strong>rs, especially in formal<br />

situations. In class, it should be okay if we did not say “Excuse me” or “I am<br />

sorry” <strong>to</strong> our classmates.<br />

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