International Symposium “New Insights into the Study of Conversation. Applications to the Language Classroom”

This International Symposium, organised by R&D project ADELEX (HUM2007-61766, Department of English, University of Granada), coordinated by Dr Carmen Perez Basanta, seeks to address some major concerns in the state of the art of the real nature of conversation in SLA/language teaching as well as examine the tension between «expressing oneself spontaneously» and «expressing oneself appropriately and correctly.» The integration of related disciplines to enlighten the complexity of oral interaction and its consequent classroom procedures would seem to be one way of moving forward and solving this dilemma. Moreover, a rigorous exploration of these related areas of study might contribute to a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary statement into the nature of conversational competence and, on the other hand, it attempts to discuss current research into the issues and problems that have arisen in learning and teaching conversation.