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Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 16. Number 2, June 2025 Pp. 20-35
Institute of Foreign Language Training, Thu Dau Mot University,
Binh Duong Province, Vietnam
CHAV2, Institute of Foreign Language Training, Thu Dau Mot University,
Binh Duong Province, Vietnam
Faculty of Social Sciences, Can Tho University of Technology,
Can Tho City, Vietnam
Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ba Ria - Vung Tau College of Education,
Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, Vietnam
Using discourse markers brings various benefits for speakers in communication. The current study investigated the use of discourse markers by Vietnamese EFL students at an English center. The study aims to explore the use of DMs by Vietnamese EFL learners and investigates their perceptions of DMs in conversations. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods, utilizing audio recordings, questionnaires, and interviews to collect data. It involved one hundred twenty-five Vietnamese EFL students and five teachers as participants. The findings reveal that students use some discourse markers more frequently than others. The referential discourse markers prevail in participants’ responses, while using structural discourse markers is almost negligible. The results also indicate that students are practically aware of the importance and functions of discourse markers; however, they are not quite familiar with the different types of these devices. The teachers also recognized the importance of discourse markers for students’ language competence development, but considered their use less effective. This study makes a significant contribution to English teaching and learning in EFL contexts in Vietnam. The research suggests that teachers should raise students’ awareness of the benefits of discourse markers in oral communication. This study also recommends various strategies for teachers to improve students’ fluency and develop their pragmatic competence through using discourse markers in communication.
Du, T. T., Binh, L.T., Dung, D. T.B., & The, N. H. (2025). The Use of Discourse Markers in Non-Native Speaker Speech: A Case from Vietnam. Arab World English Journal, 16 (2):20-35
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Dr. Tran Thanh Du specializes in both in TESOL methodologies and Contrastive Linguistics. He is currently a lecturer and head of the Institute of Foreign Language Training at Thu Dau Mot University in Vietnam. He takes his interests in studies of linguistics, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, learner motivation, and English language teaching methodologies. All of his published works focus on both linguistic studies and TESOL-related issues. He endeavors to improve language use in general, and English language teaching and learning in global contexts.ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7802-9949
Ly Thien Binh is majoring in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. He is a teacher of English at an English center in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, and is currently pursuing his M.A. in English language at Thu Dau Mot University. He takes his interests in studies of linguistics, learner motivation, and language teaching methodologies. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3740-4198
Dr. Dang Thi Bao Dung is currently serving as a lecturer at Can Tho University of Technology, Vietnam. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Victoria University, Australia, and a Ph.D. in Contrastive Linguistics from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam. Her research interests include language skills, teaching methodologies, test-preparation instruction, and the interplay between language and culture. Her published research encompasses both language teaching and linguistics.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8194-8975
Nguyen Huu The is a Doctor of Comparative Linguistics. He is currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ba Ria—Vung Tau College of Education, Vietnam. His primary areas of expertise are TESOL and Comparative linguistics. His research interests are linguistics, semantics, stylistics, pragmatics, and English language teaching methodologies. All of his published works focus on linguistic research and topics related to TESOL. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2075-6793