64. Ms. Morales notices that one of her ESL students, Eduardo, often uses gestures when speaking in English. When Ms. Morales gives Eduardo directions, he usually restates or asks questions about the directions. Which of the following components of communicative competency is Eduardo primarily using?
Answer: C
Eduardo is primarily using strategic competence.
Strategic competence refers to the ability to use communication strategies effectively, especially in situations where language skills may be limited. Eduardo's use of gestures and his practice of restating or asking questions about directions illustrate his efforts to convey meaning and clarify understanding, which are key aspects of strategic competence.
A) Discourse competence
Discourse competence involves the ability to connect sentences in a coherent manner and to understand how to structure conversations or texts appropriately. While Eduardo may demonstrate some aspects of discourse competence, his primary focus on using gestures and confirming understanding does not align with this component.
B) Grammatical competence
Grammatical competence is the understanding of and ability to use the rules of grammar in a language. Although Eduardo is learning English grammar, his reliance on gestures and active clarification indicates that he is not primarily demonstrating grammatical competence in this context.
C) Strategic competence
Strategic competence is characterized by the ability to use strategies to overcome communication challenges. Eduardo's frequent use of gestures and his tendency to ask questions about directions show that he is actively employing strategies to communicate more effectively, making this the correct answer.
D) Sociolinguistic competence
Sociolinguistic competence encompasses the understanding of social context and appropriate language use in different situations. While Eduardo may be developing this awareness, his current actions are more focused on using strategies to enhance communication rather than navigating social nuances.
Conclusion
Eduardo's use of gestures and his practice of restating directions demonstrate strategic competence as he actively seeks to communicate effectively despite potential language barriers. Other options, while relevant to communicative competency, do not capture the essence of Eduardo's actions as accurately as strategic competence does. Thus, strategic competence is the most fitting description of Eduardo's communicative efforts in this scenario.