Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)

By the end of this lecture, students should be able to: Develop an awareness about the history of CLT. Recognize the nature of CLT. Define CLT. Recognize the methodology CLT. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of CLT . Form an outline about CLT. Objectives of this lecture

The History of Communicative Language Teaching The Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), started its rise to prominence during the 1970s and 80s. It is a method that overtook older and more traditional methods such as the GTM, ALM. The aim of the communicative approach is to provide students with real life communication lessons that try to mimic the natural progression of language learning. The idea is to make the target language more relevant to real world situations rather than the classroom.

The nature of CLT: An emphasis on learning to communicate through interaction in the target language. The introduction of authentic texts into the learning situation. The provision of opportunities for learners to focus, not only on language but also on the learning process itself. An enhancement of the learner’s own personal experiences as important contributing elements to classroom learning. An attempt to link classroom language learning with language activities outside the classroom.

The nature of CLT: a teacher using this method should create a range of different activities that mimic the use of the English language outside of the classroom, including: pair work, group work, role plays, interviews, games, surveys ,etc. Emphasizes the ability to communicate the meaning of the message, instead of concentrating on grammatical perfection. The teacher can be the facilitator of the communication process in the classroom. The teacher is expected to act as a resource, an organizer of resources, a motivator, a counselor, a guide, an analyst and a researcher. The students do most of the speaking, the interaction should usually be the student to student and should include the teacher only where necessary. Instruction in listening and speaking, as well as reading and writing, is given within the context of handling various learning tasks, which involve learners with language.

Definition of CLT: The communicative approach is the theory that language is communication. Therefore the final aim of CLT (Communicative Language Teaching) is communicative competence. Communicative language teaching makes use of real-life situations that necessitate communication. The first principle of CLT , authentic and meaningful communication. Second, learners learn through using it to communicate. Third, fluency is an important dimension of communication. Then, communication involves the integration of different language skills. The last, learning is a process of creative construction and involves trial and error.

The Methodology of CLT: Firstly, the point of grammar is taught and then the teacher asks the students to carry out exercises to practice the point in grammar. For example, the teacher is teaching the present continuous and outlines the structure of the tense. After this, the students are required to carry out activities where they might use it in real life situations. There are many activities that teachers can employ when using this method. E.g. pair work, group work, and role plays work well. Students should express language in the following broads: personal (feelings, etc.), interpersonal (social and working relationships), directive (influencing others), referential (reporting about things, events, people or language itself), and imaginative (creativity and artistic expression). Teacher shouldn’t correct the student’s grammatical mistakes and focuses only on the topic of communication, in order to increase the students’ confidence.

Advantages of CLT: Learning second language through interaction, authentic communication and negotiating meaning Understanding of English through active student interaction; role play, games, information gaps ((i.e., “I/we have what you need, and you have what I/we need to complete our task”). The task cannot be completed individually ;partners must work together to successfully complete the assigned task). The communicative approach embraces the principle of “learning by doing,” encouraging the use of English from the beginning of instruction

Disadvantages of CLT: CLT does not focus on error correction. This is a disadvantage as learners are forced to practice with classmates who are not fluent in English. Another disadvantage is that the CLT approach focuses on fluency but not accuracy. The approach does not focus on error reduction but instead creates a situation where learners are left using their own devices to solve their communication problems. Thus they may produce incoherent, grammatically incorrect sentences.

Application : Typical Techniques: Role play. Games that involves communicative activities. Information gaps. pair work, group work. Surveys . Interviews. Textbooks.

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