ISSN 2411-9598 (Print) ISSN 2411-4103 (Online) European Journal of Language and Literature Studies May-Aug 2016 Vol.5 Nr. 1 40 Communication Strategies Used by Middle Estern Postgrduate Students at Service Encounters in Univsersty Malaya Suo Yanju Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM) Suo Yanmei Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Malaysia Abstract Communication strategies are important in helping L2 learners to communicate successfully when they are faced with a problem in speech production. This study looked at one of the components in Communication Competence, i.e strategy competence or the use of Communication Strategies (CS) in oral interactions among Middle Eastern students and counter staff in institute of postgraduate studies (IPS) at University of Malay. Data collected from video-tape and interviews were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. It was found that the most frequently used communication strategy was the use of “modification devices‟. The other strategies used frequency were“interaction strategies”, “compensatory strategies” “avoidance strategies” and “L2-based strategies”. The results showed that students used different communication strategies to overcome their communication difficulties. The main aim of using the communication strategies is to avoid communication breakdown. Consequently, Second language learners should be encouraged to use communication strategies to develop their oral skills and help them more effective in oral communication with their limited English language proficiency. The implications and suggestions from this study towards development the teaching and learning of ESL were also presented. Keywords: Communication Strategies Used by Middle Estern Postgrduate Students at Service Encounters in Univsersty Malaya Introduction Communication strategies are strategies that learners employ when their communicative competence in the language being learned (L2) is insufficient. This includes understanding in theL2 and having others help them understand L2. Learners use communication strategies to offset any inadequacies they may have in the grammar of the language and, also in vocabulary. Communication strategies aid learners in participating in and maintaining conversations and improving the quality of communication. This, in turn, enables them to improve their exposure to and opportunities to use the L2, leading to more opportunities to test their assumptions about the L2 and to receive feedback. Research in communication strategies began in the early 1970s. In the early 1980s, the real study of communication strategies has become the concern of many researchers. Canale and Swain (1983) as cited in Dornyei and Scott (1997) included communication strategies in their model of communication competence as part of strategies competency, which is the learner’s ability to use communication strategies and cope with various communication problems they may encounter. International students in University of Malaya face several problems when trying to communicate in English. In the process of communication, these students have often found themselves in a position, whereby they have to improvise in order to get their messages across and overcome any momentary inadequacies. Usually the obstacle in communication is the lack of vocabulary items, which either has not been learnt, or cannot be recalled at that point in time. Another problem faced by International students is the inadequate knowledge or competence in the grammar of the English language. Problems arise among international students who have to communicate in English. This research describes the communicative strategies used by international postgraduate students at the University of Malaya when communicating with the front desk officers of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS).