Interlanguage In Spontaneous EFL Speaking: Insights from Male and Female Learners
Abstract views: 72
PDF downloads: 93
Keywords:
Interlanguage; Spontaneous speaking; Gender; EFL learnersAbstract
Spontaneous speaking is challenging for EFL learners because it requires real-time language processing through an evolving interlanguage system influenced by the first language (L1). Although interlanguage has been widely studied, relatively few studies examine its processes in spontaneous speaking, particularly from an exploratory gender perspective. This study investigated interlanguage processes in unprepared oral production and explored gender-related patterns. A qualitative case study was conducted with six first-semester students (three males and three females) in the Department of English Education, Universitas Muria Kudus, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through field notes, semi-structured interviews, audiovisual recordings, and non-opt-in classroom observations. Selinker’s (1972) five interlanguage processes provided the analytical framework. Four processes were sufficiently supported by the data: L1 transfer, the most frequently coded process, followed by overgeneralization, communication strategies, and learning strategies. Transfer of training was included in the coding framework but excluded from the final frequency count because the data did not establish a sufficient link between observed expressions and specific classroom instruction or practice. Descriptively, males produced more L1-transfer instances overall, whereas communication strategies appeared slightly more frequently among females. These observations are exploratory and should not be interpreted as general gender tendencies given the small sample. The findings suggest that spontaneous speaking can provide a productive context for revealing interlanguage processes and offer practical implications for supporting EFL learners’ speaking development.
Downloads
References
Adnyani, N. L. P. S., & Kusumawardani, D. A. N. (2020). Interlanguage Analysis on Speech Produced by EFL Learners. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, 6(2), 178–185. https://doi.org/10.22225/jr.6.2.1727.178-185
Anindya, A. S., Inayati, D., & Ulani, A. (2022). Students’ Perceptions on The Use of L1 in EFL Learning. LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Learning, 25(1), 310–318. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24071.4162
Ariyanti, A., & Fitriana, R. (2017). EFL Students’ Difficulties and Needs in Essay Writing. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research (ASSEHR, 158. https://doi.org/10.2991/ictte-17.2017.4
Aslan, A., & Taş, T. (2024). Implementation of Five Pushed Output Activities in an EFL Speaking Class. Journal of Language Research, 8(2), 19–29. https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1502523
Betancourt González, R. C., & Alvarado Martínez, E. (2020). The Interlanguage in Learners of English as a Foreign Language: An Error Analysis Approach 1. MEXTESOL Journal, 44(1). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373161115_The_Interlanguage_in_Learners_of_English_as_a_Foreign_Language_An_Error_Analysis_Approach
Corder, S. P. (1981). Error Analysis and Interlanguage. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Daflizar, D. (2024). Out-of-Class Speaking Anxiety among Indonesian EFL Students and Its Relationship with Self-Perceived Speaking Skills, Vocabulary Proficiency, and Gender. Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 12(1), 240. https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v12i1.9342
Dinsa, M. T., Seyoum, G., & Dinsa, D. T. (2022). The Influence of Gender and Study Duration on EFL Learners’ Speaking Strategies Use. International Journal of Language Education, 6(1), 10–24. https://doi.org/10.26858/ijole.v6i1.19272
Dörnyei, Z. (2005). The Psychology of the Language Learner: Individual Differences in Second Language Acquisition. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Ellis, R. (2008). The Study of Second Language Acquisition (2nd ed.). Oxford : Oxford University Press.
Ellis, Rod. (1994). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Fauzi, I., & Asi, N. (2023). Examining Speaking Anxiety of Indonesian Learners of English: A Case of University Students. Examining Speaking Anxiety of Indonesian Learners of English Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 7(2), 263–275. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v7i2.1338
Fauziati, E. (2017). Native and target language influence on the students’ interlanguage productions a case of Indonesian EFL compositions. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 7(1), 54–63. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v7i1.6858
Fernández Sesma, M. G., Sortillón González, P. E., & Rodríguez Valenzuela, A. E. (2025). EFL Students’ Perceptions of Collaborative Learning in Facilitating the Development of Speaking Skills. Elia, (25), 141–182. https://doi.org/10.12795/elia.2025.i25.5
Foster, P., & Tavakoli, P. (2009). Native Speakers and Task Performance: Comparing Effects on Complexity, Fluency, and Lexical Diversity. Language Learning, 59(4), 866–896. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9922.2009.00528.x
Fransiska, W., & Habibi, A. (2021). Investigating the Impact of Interlanguage on Adult EFL Learners in Indonesia: Strengths and Weaknesses. KnE Social Sciences, 663–671. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v5i4.8722
Han, Z. (2009). Interlanguage and fossilization: Towards an analytic model. Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
Handayani, R., Sukarno, B. S. T., Perdana, P. R., & Meisani, D. R. (2025). Exploring University EFL Students’ Use of Communication Strategies in Impromptu Speaking. Journal of English Language and Education, 10(3), 686–693. https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v10i3.941
Harahap, W. S. P. (2021). Interlanguage of Error Analysis on Students Writing in Covid-19 Pandemic Era. Proceeding of International Conference on Language Pedagogy (ICOLP), 1(1), 240–246. https://doi.org/10.24036/icolp.v1i1.46
Kamrul Hassan, M., & Rami, Z. (2024). Exploring Nuances in Second Language Acquisition: An Error Analysis Perspective. Migration Letters, 21, 294–298. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.59670/ml.v21i4.7319
Levelt, W. J. M. (1989). Speaking: From Intention to Articulation. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Lightbown, P. M. , & Spada, N. (2019). How Language Are Learned (5th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Mohtasham, L., & Farnia, M. (2017). English Speaking Anxiety: A Study of the Effect of Gender on Iranian EFL University Students’ Perceptions. International Journal of Research in English Education, 2(4), 66–79. https://doi.org/10.29252/ijree.2.4.66
Muktiningrum, I., Mahmud, M., & Halim, A. (2024). Speaking Anxiety of Students in EFL Classroom Based on Gender in Higher Education. Pinisi Journal of Art, Humanity, and Sosial Studies, 4(2), 463–474. Retrieved from http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Muthia, D. R., Fahriany, F., & Utami, M. A. (2021). Interlanguage in recount writing text on 8th grade secondary school student. Leksika: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra Dan Pengajarannya, 15(2), 84. https://doi.org/10.30595/lks.v15i2.9805
Nation, I. S. P., & Newton, J. (2020). Teaching ESL/EFL Listening and Speaking (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. Retrieved from www.routledge.com/
Okyar, H. (2023). Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety and its Link to Speaking Self-Efficacy, Fear of Negative Evaluation, Self-Perceived Proficiency and Gender. Science Insights Education Frontiers, 17(2), 2715–2731. https://doi.org/10.15354/sief.23.or388
Oxford, R. L., & Nyikos, M. (1989). Variables Affecting Choice of Language Learning Strategies by University Students. The Modern Language Journal, 73(3), 291–300. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2307/327003
Pakzadian, M., & Tootkaboni, A. A. (2018). The role of gender in conversational dominance: A study of EFL learners. Cogent Education, 5(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2018.1560602
Puspita, D. (2019). Error Analysis on Learners’ Interlanguage and Intralanguage: A Case Study of Two Adolescent Students. TEKNOSASTIK, 17(2), 12. https://doi.org/10.33365/ts.v17i2.321
Rahayu, E. Y., Soepriatmadji, L., & Purwanto, S. (2022). Interlanguage Performance of EFL College Students: Evidenced in the First Semester of the English Letters Major-Indonesia. English Language Teaching, 15(7), 13. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v15n7p13
Rahman Hz, B. (2022). An Exploration on Students’ Public Speaking Anxiety: Stifin Perspective. LLT Journal: Journal on Language and Language Teaching, 25(1), 149–159. https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.v25i1.4502
Selinker, L. (1972). Interlanguage. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 10(3), 209–231.
Tarone, E. (1981). Some Thoughts on the Notion of Communication Strategy. TESOL Quarterly, 15(3), 285–295.
Thornbury, S. (2005). How to Teach Speaking. Harlow: Pearson Education.
Uyen, P. T. M., & Dieu, P. T. (2023). Common Difficulties in Speaking of English-Majored Freshmen at Tay Do University. European Journal of English Language Teaching, 8(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v8i1.4626
Wang, Y. (2020). Interlanguage and Its Implications in College English Teaching and Learning. Studies in Literature and Language, 21(2), 60–63. https://doi.org/10.3968/11891
Wen, Z., Skehan, P., & Sparks, R. (2022). Language aptitude research: From testing to theory and practice.
Yakut, I., & Bada, E. (2021). Interlanguage Development of Turkish Speakers of English: Exploring Oral and Written Communication Strategies. Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 9(4), 611–626. https://doi.org/10.22190/JTESAP2104611Y
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Zhang, X., Ardasheva, Y., & Austin, B. W. (2020). Self-efficacy and english public speaking performance: A mixed method approach. English for Specific Purposes, 59, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2020.02.001
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
The journal uses an Open Access policy under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
