Multimodal aspects of decision making in L2 group work

This paper reports on an investigation into the multimodal nature of decision making in language learning groups. It is situated in the context of a mobile phone video project with 13 Mexican adult learners of German as a... [ view full abstract ]

This paper reports on an investigation into the multimodal nature of decision making in language learning groups. It is situated in the context of a mobile phone video project with 13 Mexican adult learners of German as a Foreign Language. The aim of the study was to examine multimodal aspects of L2 classroom negotiations in a group work situation and how nonverbal semiotic resources such as eye communication, gaze, head movement, gestures, mimics, and posture, as well as setting, contribute to these group decision making processes. The analyzed corpus consists of 620 minutes of audiovisual data on group decision making processes which are triangulated with 720 minutes of individual video-stimulated recall protocols. Decision making episodes of three project groups are analyzed from an interactional and participational point of view with focus on how multimodality supports these L2 negotiation processes. This analysis offers both an etic and an emic perspective on L2-group negotiation processes and allows for the detailed reconstruction of multimodal collective and cooperative participation mechanisms. It unveils a strong link between individual interaction styles, different types of participation, and group discourse patterns. Using video and transcript examples of the between-methods triangulation for illustration, this paper presents empirical insights into multimodal communication as regulator of group participation processes in the L2 classroom.