Verbal and on-screen peer interactions of EFL learners during multimodal collaborative writing: A multiple case-study

Multimodal collaborative writing has become increasingly prevalent in the advent of technology-enhanced language learning, yet scant attention was paid to the verbal and on-screen interactions between learners during the construction process. This study narrowed the research gap and investigated three pairs of EFL learners’ interactions when completing a multimodal collaborative writing task in an English for Academic Purpose (EAP) course at a university in Hong Kong. Using a multiple case-study approach, we examined the dynamics of peer interactions through their interaction patterns, utilization of semiotic and multimodal resources and functions of languaging. Our analyses showed that the three pairs enacted strikingly distinct patterns of interaction, with the more collaborative partners demonstrating a variety of prompting and feedback skills to facilitate their discussion. Surprisingly, the pairs had strong tendencies to attend to the texts rather than multimodal elements during the writing process. Another striking finding is that even non-collaborative partners occasionally engaged in various forms of private speech to keep track of the writing process. Implications of these findings on fostering peer collaborations during multimodal CW are discussed.