A01 cohe4573 01 se fm. Qxd

2 9 4
F U R T H E R I S S U E S I N L E A R N I N G , T E A C H I N G , A N D A S S E S S M E N T
Situation: John and Kevin are good friends at college. They arranged
to meet in order to study together for an exam. Kevin arrives half an
hour late for the meeting. (Learners respond in Kevin’s role, below.)
As readers may have noticed, it is often difficult to make a clear distinction
between language-related and culture-related aspects of pragmatics. This 
is precisely because both aspects are in many ways integrated, given that
pragmatics occurs at the juncture of language and culture (see Chapter 1).
Learner 1
Learner 2
John: (annoyed) I’ve been waiting at 
least half an hour for you!
Kevin: So what! It’s only an – a meeting 
for – to study.
John: Well, I was standing here waiting. 
I could have been doing something else.
Kevin: Yeah, I’m sorry. But don’t make
such a big deal of it.
John: Well, it’s pretty annoying. Try to
come on time next time.
John: (annoyed) I’ve been waiting at least
half an hour for you!
Kevin: I am so sorry. . . . I studied until 3 
in the morning last night and I couldn’t get
up this morning. I will buy your lunch for
the compensation.
John: Well, I was standing here waiting. 
I could have been doing something else.
Kevin: I am very sorry for keeping you
waiting. I should have called your cell
phone. I won’t do this again!
John: Well, it’s pretty annoying. Try to
come on time next time.
Evaluation
4 – Very appropriate; 3 – Somewhat
appropriate; 2 – Less appropriate; 
1 – Inappropriate
1 Strategies of apologies 4
3
2
1
2 Vocabulary/phrases
4
3
2
1
3 Level of formality
4
3
2
1
4 Pragmatic tone
4
3
2
1
Teacher’s comments:
Considering that Kevin and John 
are good friends, the language is
appropriately informal and grammatically
accurate. Kevin uses apologies minimally
(and not until in the second turn), and
even blames John for being upset. This
makes Kevin sound less apologetic than
John expects him to be. Maybe Kevin 
isn’t feeling very sorry and is being a 
little confrontational with John.
Evaluation
4 – Very appropriate; 3 – Somewhat
appropriate; 2 – Less appropriate; 
1 – Inappropriate
1 Strategies of apologies