The aim of this study was to explore the effect of computer-mediated
communication (CMC), as compared with traditional face-to-face instruction,
on the acquisition of the request speech act. It also examined the differential
impacts of synchronous and asynchronous CMC modes on pragmalinguistic
and sociopragmatic competences. The participants were 106 Iranian EFL
learners who received the treatment via synchronous (Syn), asynchronous
(Asyn), and face-to-face (F-F) instruction types for eight sessions during an
intensive extracurricular program. During each of the treatment sessions, the
participants received the metapragmatic instruction; watched computerized
video clips on requests; and then were paired with a partner to discuss some
prescribed questions and to create their own dialogues based on the given
situations. During this phase, they were engaged in synchronous text-based
chat, asynchronous text-based chat, or face-to-face discussion, based on their
group assignment. Prior to and after the treatment, the written discourse
completion test (WDCT) pretest and post-test were administered. The data
analysis by an ANCOVA and a series of t-tests showed the superiority of
CMC-oriented instruction over F-F instruction. While no significant
difference was found between Syn and Asyn groups in their post-test
performance, they performed differentially on some measures of
pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic competences. The findings havepedagogical implications for EFL teachers, practitioners, and courseware
designers to use CMC affordances for delivering pragmatics instruction.