An Analysis of Discourse Markers Used by Non-native English Learners: Its Implication for Teaching English as a Foreign Language

The purpose of this article is to investigate the similarities and differences in the usage of discourse markers such as because, so, and, etc. among the following three types of university students: native speakers of English (NS), non-native Chinese students (CNNS, mainland Chinese), and non-native Japanese students (JNNS). All the CNNS and JNNS have studied English as a foreign language for more than six years. This paper shows that the three groups of students share a few characteristics with regard to frequency and types of discourse markers used in their English essays. There is an obvious difference among the three groups of students in their preferences for particular types of discourse markers. This paper maintains that priority should be on how to effectively teach the pragmatic and grammatical functions of each discourse marker in English classes carried out in Japan and China because various kinds of misuse of discourse markers have been found in the essays written by the non-native speakers.