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The study explores the use of thanking and gratitude expressions in spoken and written L2 discourse. More specifically, the study intends to examine the types and functions of gratitude expressions produced by Indonesian EFL students and those presented in English textbooks in primary and secondary schools. 26 undergraduate EFL students were recruited and requested to fill out a discourse completion task (DCT) to stimulate the production of thanking and gratitude expressions. In addition, nine English course books for primary and secondary school levels were analyzed. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings indicate that thanking and gratitude expressions were used differently in spoken and in written. The findings add to our knowledge of the function of expressions of gratitude in the context of language acquisition and intercultural and cross-cultural communication. Some recommendations for enhancing language teaching-learning methodologies and intercultural communication will also be discussed.

second language context, student and educator perspective,