Communicative Approach of Language Teaching

 The communicative approach of Language teaching (CLT) was firstly started in Britain and used all over the world for teaching English as a second language (ESL). Communicative Language teaching was considered as the need of the hour after the discontentment of linguists with the Grammar-Translation method and Audio-lingual method of language teaching. Moreover, students were unable to learn language through Audio-lingual and grammar-translation methods. So, it was thought that language should be taught to students based on communicative competence rather than command on the structure of sentences. (Thamarana, 2015)

Communicative language teaching is “An approach to foreign or second language teaching which emphasizes that the goal of language learning is communicative competence” (Richards, 1992).

Why CLT approach is best than other methods?

Linguists have devised different methods for language teaching and learning but I believe that the Communicative approach is one of the best. The grammar-translation method is based on memorization of grammar-translation and the Audio-lingual method is a kind of drill of repetition of sentences. However, CLT focuses on both the structure and the function of language i.e., communication. Moreover, it emphasized developing communicative competence in the learners rather than teaching them mere grammatical rules. (Thamarana, 2015) Here are some points for CLT as the best method

i)               Fluency and Accuracy

The communicative method is considered the best because it focuses on fluency and accuracy of language.  It also encourages learners to enhance their capability of using the English language. Moreover, it builds their confidence when they communicate fluently. (Thamarana, 2015). However, at some points, fluency is considered more important than accuracy because it keeps students engaged in communication. (Brown) n.d.

 

ii)             Not limited to oral skills

The communicative method of teaching language is not confined to oral skills, but it also helps students in improving their reading and listening skills. Some people have a misconception that the communicative approach is limited to verbal skills, but students’ interpretation and expression of meaning are also involved in it. It gives chance to students so they can improve their ideas and the way of their expression. (Thamarana, 2015)

 

iii)           Student-centered

The communicative approach is the best method of learning and teaching language because it student-centered. Asimova says, “A typical communicative language teaching lesson follows a PPP model. The teacher may present some part of the lesson, and students complete some exercises, but then students produce the language in freer activities that help them to communicate. As a result, the student talk is increased, whereas the teacher talk is decreased. The teacher establishes situations that promote communication, and he facilitates students’ communication. During the activities, he does not interrupt them, but he monitors their performance. Error correction is not immediate. If he notes a mistake and he realizes that he has to work on it, he does it later during a more accuracy-based activity. However, the role of students is to communicate by negotiating to mean. Even if their knowledge of the target language is not complete, they still have to try and make themselves understood, but also understand their classmates’ intentions of communication” (Azimova, 2019)

 

iv)            Communicative Competence

As communication has great significance in CLT, it empowers learners to use English in a talkative position. (Thamarana, 2015) . Moreover, Azimova, S (2019) says that communicative competence helps in “Knowing how to use language for a range of different purposes and functions, how to vary our use of language according to the setting and the participants, how to produce and understand different types of texts, how to maintain communication despite having limitations in one’s language knowledge.” (Azimova, 2019)

 

v)             Focus on meaning

The communicative approach is the best method of learning and teaching language because it makes learners focus on the meaning of purpose and expression of speaking and writing. (Azimova, 2019)

 

vi)            Social Interaction

The communicative approach is the best method of learning and teaching language because it believes in social interaction among learners. Communication is the greater obstacle in learning a language that can be removed by interacting with others rather than just memorizing the sentences. (Azimova, 2019)

 

References

Azimova, S. (2019). THE COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.33619/2414-2948/41/70

Brown, H. D. (n.d.). PRINCIPLES of LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING (Fifth ed.). doi:ISBN: 0-13-199128-0

Thamarana, S. (2015, July). A Critical Overview of Communicative Language Teaching. International joournal of English Language, Literature and Humanities , 3(5). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282877159

·        Richards, J., et. al. (1992). Dictionary of language teaching and applied linguistics. London: Longman