Concepts in Communicative Language Teaching

1. What is CLT? Presented by: Ivan Aguilar

2. Communicative Language Teaching: Different Definitions Communicative language teaching (CLT) is an approach to the teaching of second and foreign languages that emphasizes interaction as both the means and the ultimate goal of learning a language. It is also referred to as “communicative approach to the teaching of foreign languages” or simply the “communicative approach”.(Wikipedia) Its origins are many, insofar as one teaching methodology tends to influence the next. The communicative approach could be said to be the product of educators and linguists who had grown dissatisfied with the audiolingual and grammar-translation methods of foreign language instruction. (Center for Applied linguisitcs) This method aims at developing procedures for the teaching of the four skills that acknowledge the interdependence of language and communication. It aims at having students become communicatively competent.(Yemen Times) A set of principles about teaching including recommendations about method and syllabus where the focus is on meaningful communication not structure, use not usage. In this approach, students are given tasks to accomplish using language, instead of studying the language.(ESL Glossary)

3. Basic Concepts (Components of a method according to Jack C Richards) METHOD APPROACH PROCEDURE DESIGN

4. Basic Concepts 1.Approach An approach refers to theories about the nature of language and language learning that serve as the resources of practices and principles of language teaching. 2.Design This specifies the relationship of theories of language and learning to the selection and organization of language content (syllabus), to the types of tasks and learning activities and the role of the learners, teachers and materials 3.Procedure Comprises the classroom techniques and practices that are consequences of particular approaches and designs.

6. Activities in which language is used for carrying out meaningful communication promote learning

8. Knowledge of the relationship between the language and its nonlinguistic (social) context.

9. Knowledge of how to begin and end conversation (Discourse competence: cohesion and coherence)

12. Skills based (Listening, Speaking, Writing, Reading)

13. Functions based (Greeting, Introducing, Telling stories)

14. Task based (Discover the differences, Solve the problems)What kind of syllabus does your course book have? In general most course books that advocate the CLT Approach create more eclectic syllabi in which they consider the different aspects of learning a language.

16. Mechanical meaningful and communicative practice

17. Information Gaps

18. Information gathering

19. Role plays

21. Focus on the formation of correct examples of language

22. Practice language out of context

23. Practice small samples of language

24. Do not require meaningful communication.

26. Focus on achieving communication

27. Require meaningful use of language

28. Require the use of communication strategies

29. Produce language that may not be predictable.

30. Seek to link language use to contextTask: Identify activities aimed at developing Accuracy and Fluency in the coursebook.

33. Information gathering (Activity 1)

34. Role-plays