Technology-enhanced pragmatic instruction

Abstract Developing pragmatic competence in another language is not an easy task for language learners, especially in foreign language settings which are deprived of real and rich interactions with different speakers of the target language in a variety of contexts. For more than a decade, researchers of L2+ pragmatics have proposed that technology and technology-mediated environments can expose students to a large variety of context and interactional practices to enhance their pragmatic awareness and develop their pragmatic competence. This article reviews studies that have investigated the potential of teaching pragmatic features with technology using a variety of tools (e.g., email; text-, audio-, and video-based computer-mediated communication; social networks; simulations; virtual environments; games) to summarize the findings of the field so far. The article also poses some questions that still need to be addressed and suggests future directions for research within the ever-evolving world of technology.