CLT was born in 1980s and it has been considered as one of the best approaches to learn a foreign language. It is based on the principle that it is necessary to develop the communicative competence. This is the ability to use appropriately the language they are learning, in a real social context. For that reason, it always tries to develop the full range of skills. Some linguists contended that communicative competence comprises grammatical competence, sociolinguistic competence, discourse competence, and strategic competence.
The practices developed in CLT must take into account:
1. A significant amount of pair work and group work is conducted.
2. Authentic language input in real life context is provided.
3. Students are encouraged to produce language for genuine, meaningful communication.
The advantages of this approach are well-known in our context but we can´t forget that there are other approaches and methods which can be used in our learning process and they also offer lots of benefits. Despite these ideas, there are many teachers and experts who disagree with CLT and they continued carrying out teaching practices using some older methods. It is not possible to discredit any method or approach; however we must have a clear set of principles which orientate our work.
What do you think about CLT? Do you use it or do you prefer another approach?
The practices developed in CLT must take into account:
1. A significant amount of pair work and group work is conducted.
2. Authentic language input in real life context is provided.
3. Students are encouraged to produce language for genuine, meaningful communication.
The advantages of this approach are well-known in our context but we can´t forget that there are other approaches and methods which can be used in our learning process and they also offer lots of benefits. Despite these ideas, there are many teachers and experts who disagree with CLT and they continued carrying out teaching practices using some older methods. It is not possible to discredit any method or approach; however we must have a clear set of principles which orientate our work.
What do you think about CLT? Do you use it or do you prefer another approach?
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There are different kinds of methods and approaches that we as teacher can use in our class, but before applying it, it is necessary to undertand it and to konw the students learning needs. This is fundamental due to we are working with human beings and we work in different contexts. for that reason I try to use a mix of different methods, but always based on a communicative aproach.
ReplyDeleteI think that the approaches and methods are very important in order to develop our teaching in the classroom, but the decisions we make need to be based on the students´ interests and likes. Thus, we have to satisfy the students´needs and objectives at the moment of taking an English class...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear about this method of teaching. I'm a english student not teacher. My needs are refleted in this kind of method. I have studied english for several years in my life but I feel I need to improve. I always have wanted to speak and have conversations, real conversations with other people for to develope more competences like communicative, sociolinguistic and discourse competence, like CLT does.
ReplyDeleteHello Sandra Carlos and Hugo,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to our blog Sandra.
Remember that we use language to communicate, so we must help our learners to develop communicative skills. I agree with you about the fact that the decision about which methods or techniques to use in the classroom must depend on the students we have and the context we are involved in, and more importantly there must always be a good reason for the dedcisions we make in the classroom.
The learning of Any language can't be succes when it is taught based in isolated topics or based in some specific skills. For that reason Clt gives an important basis to recognize how meaningful communication is. Also the need for changing strategies into the classroom. Despite I haven't implemented this approach in my classes, it is a challenge for next year to implemet it. I will use it as a guide for my syllabus. However we can't desistimated the work and the useful activities we have done trough this years.
ReplyDeleteLanguages are meant to communicate. That's why CLT seems to me the most funcional and useful approach for someone who wants to get in otuch with people. Encourage interaction is the best way to propiciate the development of communicative oral and written skills.
ReplyDelete