This book introduces you to an exploration of discourse competence as a core component of successful second language (L2) communication, highlighting its role to promote overall intelligibility levels in L2 learner performance. In doing so, this volume promotes the examination of L2 learner output from a discourse-oriented perspective through the articulation of discourse competence in terms of textual resources of cohesion and coherence, thus making the construct both instructable and researchable. Building on decades of L2 performance research, particularly within the Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) approach, this book explores the potential of planning time as a pedagogical tool to promote discourse competence in second language (L2) learners and enhance overall levels of intelligibility in oral task-performance. Including guidelines for investigating L2 learner performance and lesson plans for the practical teaching of discourse resources in the L2 classrooms, this book promotes research of discoursal aspects of L2 learner task-performance and the implementation of an overall discourse-oriented perspective in the L2 classroom. This book constitutes a valuable resource for researchers, university students, instructors, and academics involved in the L2 teaching and learning field thus making it an essential reading for professionals in applied linguistics and language teaching associations worldwide.

Claudia Vásquez Fernández (PhD, FHEA) is an experienced and award-winning second language (L2) educator with a broad expertise in L2 teaching and assessment in the higher education sector in Australia and abroad. She has extensive experience in designing, implementing, and delivering language learning programs in tertiary and non-degree settings for both local and international students from the Asia Pacific region.