Fundamental Research on Developing Question-and-Answering Communication Skills in Oral Presentations

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This study examined the various characteristics and problems regarding speaker-questioner interaction in question-and-answer (Q&A) sessions of oral presentations by international students (L2 learners of Japanese) and Japanese students through surveys of consciousness and analysis of conversation data. Difficulties encountered by presenters included how to respond when unfamiliar jargon was used or the questioner's intension was incomprehensible and hesitation towards questioners. The Q&A session data showed positive attitudes from presenters when attempting to recover a halted conversation through reconfirming questions and comments; however, when the presenter was silent or repeatedly used fillers, the questioner would take full lead and try to recover the conversation. These results indicate the necessity of assertive communication by a presenter to produce more active time for Q&A sessions.