In the field of second language acquisition, many studies have been done and compared in an attempt to answer the question: How does the learner acquire a second language? One of the problems which still remain to be explored is this: How does the learner perceive the total context of communication? 'This study is an attempt at investigating the following: (1) general preference of medium of communication, (2) variables affecting ease of oral communication, and (3) communication strategies. The subjects were 38 advanced learners of English and 34 native speakers of English. When compared with the native subjects, the nonnative subjects more emphatically showed their concern over errors and misunderstandings, thus suggesting the difficulties of intercultural communication. Some suggestion has been made in terms of teaching a second language in classroom settings.