"This is a lucidly written book situated in the field of interlanguage pragmatics. The volume examines the influence of the study abroad context on English language learners’ development of their pragmatic comprehension and production. It presents an original study, which not only enriches our knowledge of the methodological innovations in pragmatics, but is also eminently useful for applied linguistics research on education abroad." - Dr. Alicia Martínez-Flor, Senior Lecturer at University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain

"Just what was needed in the field of acquisitional pragmatics – a longitudinal investigation on the effects of a study abroad experience on the acquisition and development of pragmatic competence. Here is a robust study which provides valuable methodological and pedagogical implications for language teachers and curriculum developers." - Dr. Esther Usó-Juan, Senior Lecturer at University Jaume I, Castellón, Spain

Gila Schauer’s work is the first book-length study of interlanguage pragmatic development in English situated in the study abroad context, one that is a common occurrence worldwide but one that has not received the focus it deserves.

Schauer examines the interlanguage pragmatic development of German learners of English at a British University over the course of a year, focussing not only on the learners’ productive pragmatic development but also on their pragmatic awareness which is compared with their grammatical awareness. The analysis undertaken is both qualitative and quantitative, and the book draws some important conclusions relevant to the whole field of interlanguage pragmatics. It will be engaging reading for researchers and postgraduate studies in applied linguistics, especially those working on interlanguage and cross-cultural pragmatics, multilingualism and second language acquisition.