Differences in Communication Between Native English ‎Speakers and EFL Saudi Female Speakers

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to explore EFL and native speakers' differences in communicating with one another. A total of 5 advanced EFL speakers and 3 native English speakers enrolled in two sets of semi-structured interviews. Two rubrics were used to compare the changes in communication among the two groups. The analysis of the qualitative data revealed that there were significant differences in the intercultural communication between EFL and native speakers. Speaker's style of delivery, self-correction, and the avoidance of long answers were the least influencing factors in determining levels of communication hindrances, while the deficiency of fluency and accuracy, intergroup anxiety, and lack of understanding were significant factors in influencing the communication. These findings had several significant implications for both developing and constructing cross-cultural communication skills training, particularly for multinational organizations, and business studies.