What is Group Membership

This chapter reports on social strategy use among undergraduate students in one of Oman's private universities. It examines interactive strategy use in three main language-learning contexts: in class, on campus outside the classroom, and off campus. Data was collected through interviews and the online questionnaire social strategy inventory for language learning (SSILL). One-hundred twenty-four students enrolled in their second-year diploma program participated in the questionnaire, while 12 were interviewed and administered a mock IELTS exam. Results indicate that participants used all social strategies at only a moderate frequency. It is concluded that different language learning backgrounds, proficiencies, and power relations between students' L1 and English may impede the use of interactive strategies in spite of the supportive classroom environment. The chapter concludes by urging practitioners to pay closer attention to learner identities, power struggles, and group memberships in the English language classroom.