Enhancing EFL Students' Communication Strategies: The Role of Academic Experience

This study aims to examine how academic experience influences the development and application of communication strategies among EFL university students. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative data from questionnaires and qualitative insights from interviews. The results show that senior students (third- and fourth-year) apply communication strategies more effectively than junior students (first- and second-year), particularly in fluency, negotiation, and accuracy-focused strategies. Interviews reveal that academic experience enhances strategy awareness, confidence, and negotiation skills. These findings suggest that as students’ progress academically, their exposure to language tasks strengthens their ability to use communication strategies effectively. The study highlights the importance of incorporating strategy training early in EFL instruction. However, limitations including the limited sample size and dependence on self-reported data need bigger and more varied participant groups in future studies.