The Impact of Task Type on Iraqi EFL Learners' Use of Communication Strategies

Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating the impact of task type on Iraqi EFL learners' use of communication strategies (henceforth CSs) when they communicate orally in English. To answer the research question and accomplish its aim, three oral tasks were employed: a one-way task (picture description task), and two two-way tasks (information-gap task and opinion-gap task). the tasks were carried out in the in-person, and under the researcher's monitoring. The sample of the study were (56) sophomores in the Department of English-College of Education University of Mosul, of the academic year 2020-2021. The results revealed that task type had an impact on the number of CSs used. It was found that opinion-gap task elicited the highest number of interactional, reduction, and time-gaining strategies, whereas picture description task elicited the highest number of self-solving strategies.