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This study argues for expectations as a basis for L2 production/interpretation of speech acts and implicatures in talk. It examines the role of expectations in pragmatic expression/interpretation in NS-learner dialogue, and whether expectations can be used to approach L2 study. Two Spanish learners were recorded in individual interactions with an unfamiliar NS while abroad. Analysis reveals that expectations by all participants guided pragmatic expressions/interpretation. The NS was able to adjust expectations to the reality of the talk quickly while the learners delayed but did change to achieve greater communicative efficiency, including variation of speech acts, implicatures and use of pragmatic markers. These observations suggest benefits from examining various expectations to frame pragmatics use/interpretation in natural dialogue.