1. Elvis Plaza
EDPE 3018
September 2012

2.  Introduce the Communicative Language
Approach in Language Teaching
 CLT General Objectives and Purpose
 Teaching Techniques
 Teaching Example

3.  Introduce the Communicative Language
Teaching approach, and how was this
approach developed in teaching languages.
Present the CLT objectives in language
teaching and teaching techniques examples.

4.  CLT origins, can be found in changes in the
British Language teaching tradition in the
1960s.
 Back then, the Situational Language teaching
approach was the norm.
 SLT consisted in internalizing the structures
of a language.
 Mostly, learning grammar rules without
vocabulary development.

5.  The SLT did not fill the need to develop
language competence in Language teaching.
 A group of experts saw the need to focus in
communicative proficiency rather than
mastery of structures. (Richards, J.C. &
Rodgers, T.S. p.64)
 Sandra J. Savignon, Christopher Candlin, D.A.
Wilkins and Henry Widdowson along with
others promoted the CLT approach.
 Along with the changes in Europe it helped to
reform the language teaching.

6.  The objective of language learning is: to learn
to express communication functions and
categories of meaning.
 Purpose of CLT: Let students communicate
fluently in a target language (L2).
 Develop “communicative competence”(Hymes,
1972).
 Contrary to the traditional Grammar
translation methods.
 Lists, rules, translations

7.  Use Language as:
◦ means of communication
◦ object of learning
◦ means of expressing values
 Focus on communication rather than
structure
 Language learning within the school
curriculum
 Focus on meaningful tasks
 Collaboration

9.  The learner role as a negotiator, between
himself, the learning process, interaction with
the group’s activities and classroom
procedures.
 In other words, the learner should contribute
as much as he gains in the classroom,
learning in an interdependent way. (Richards
J., C., Rodgers T. S.(p.77).

10.  Two main roles:
 First, to facilitate the communication
process between all participants in the
classroom, and a guide between students
activities and texts.
 Second, to act as an independent
participant within the learning-teaching
group. (Richards J.C., Rodgers T. S.(p.77).

11.  Materials are seen as a way of influencing the
quality of classroom interaction and language
use.
 They have promote communicative language
use.
 Some Instructional Materials are:
 Visual cues
 Taped cues
 Pictures

12.  Realia
 Wh- questions (Why, What, When, Where,
Who)
 Games
 Role Plays
 Simulations

13.  Exercise types and activities compatible with
the CLT, are unlimited.
 If they help to engage in communication they
are welcome.
 Information sharing, negotiation of meaning
and interaction.

14.  Communicating behind a screen to give
instructions on how to draw a picture or
shape
 Follow directions
 Conversation and discussion sessions
 Dialogues and role plays
 Simulations
 Improvisations
 Debates

15.  Students will work in pairs and communicate
with their partner.
 They will answer the questions and organize
which animals can go in each box.
 They are many good
answers.

16.  During research, I realized that my elementary
teachers rarely used this teaching approach.
 I rarely got any oral practice in my English
class.
 Therefore, to my future students I plan to use
this approach so that they can lose the fear of
speaking a second language.
 I will help them overcome their fears and
boost their confidence by the different
techniques available.

17.  This approach can help future teachers
develop their students’ oral communication
skills.
 Students will lose the fear of communicating
in a second language, in this case English as
a Second Language. (ESL)
 It can help promote confidence and security
in the classroom environment, in everyday
use, and when travelling abroad.

18.  Richards, J. C. Rodgers, T. S. (1992). Approaches and Methods in
Language Teaching. New York: Cambridge University Press.
 Littlewood, W. (1981). Communicative Language Teaching an I
ntroduction. London: Cambridge University Press.
 Nunan, D. (1999). Second Language Teaching & Learning. New York:
Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
 Sun, G. & Cheng, L. (Spring 2002). From Context to Curriculum: A Case
Study of Communicative Language Teaching in China. [Electronic
version]. TESL Canada Journal. VOL. 19, NO.2. Retrieved August 29,
2012, from the Eric database.
 Criado, R. & Sánchez A. (2009). English Language Teaching in Spain: Do
Textbooks Comply with the Official Methodological Regulations? A
Sample Analysis. [Electronic version]. University of Murcia
Publications. IJES, vol. 9 (1).
 Orwig, C. J. (1999, March 21). Communicative Language Teaching.
Retrieved:
August 28, 2012, from SIL International, 1999. Web site:
 http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/LANGUAGELEARNING/WaysToApproachLa
nguageLearning/CommunicativeLanguageTeaching.htm