Community Language Learning
(CLL)
By the end of this lecture, students
should be able to:

Develop an awareness about the
history of CLL.

Recognize the nature of CLL.

Define CLL.

Recognize the methodology of
CLL.

Identify the advantages and
disadvantages of CLL.

Form an outline about CLL.
Objectives
of this
lecture
The History of the Community Language Learning
Community Language Learning (CLL)was
developed by Charles Curran and his
associates. Curran was a specialist in
counseling and a professor of psychology.
His application of psychological counseling
techniques to learning is known as
Counseling-Learning. CLL represents the
use of Counseling-Learning theory to teach
languages.
Consequently, the learner is not thought of
as a student but as a client. The instructors
of the language are not considered
teachers but, rather are trained in
counseling skills adapted to their roles as
language counselors.
The nature of Community Language Learning
(1) Students are to be considered as "learner-clients" and the
teacher as a "teacher-counselor".
(2) A relationship of mutual trust and support is considered
essential to the learning process.
(3) Students are permitted to use their native language, and
are provided with translations from the teacher which they
then attempt to apply.
(4) Grammar and vocabulary are taught inductively.
(5) "Chunks" of target language produced by the students are
recorded and later listened to they are also transcribed
with native language equivalents to become texts the
students work with.
The nature of Community Language Learning
6) Students apply the target language independently and without
translation when they feel inclined/ confident enough to do
so.
(7) Students are encouraged to express not only how they feel
about the language, but how they feel about the learning
process, to which the teacher expresses empathy and
understanding.
(8) CLL is a good method for beginners who just first study their
second language. Using this method can help beginners to
reduce their anxiety in the classroom.
(9) This method considers the student to be “whole person”. It is
not only to think about students’ intellect but also their
feeling in learning language.
(10) students (8 to 12 maximum) sit in a circle. The teacher (who
is termed the ‘Counselor’ ) stands outside the circle, and only
help when needed by students.
Definition of Community Language Learning:

CLL) is an approach in which students and teacher work
together to develop the aspects of a language they would
like to learn. The teacher acts as a counselor, while the
learner acts as a kind of patient being guided through
established stages of development.

There are 5 main stages in CLL:
• Birth stage: a feeling of security and belonging is established
• As the learner's abilities improve, a measure of
independence is achieved
• Learners start to speak independently
• The learners are secure enough to take criticism and
correction
• The child becomes an "adult" and becomes proficient in the
language
The Methodology of CLL:
STAGE 1
The client is completely dependent on the language counselor. First, the S
expresses only to the counselor in L1 what he wishes to say to the group. The
counselor then reflects these ideas back to the client in the L2. The client turns
to the group and presents his idea in foreign language.
Stage 2
With a lot of practice, the client speaks directly to the group in the foreign
language, and the group has now acquired the ability to understand his simple
phrases. This presumes the client’s greater confidence, independence, and
proportionate insight into the relationship of phrases, grammar, and ideas.
Translation is given only when a group member desires it.
Stage 3
The client is now speaking freely and complexly in the foreign language. He/she
presumes group’s understanding. The counselor directly intervenes in
grammatical error, mispronunciation, or where aid in complex expression is
needed. The client is sufficiently secure to take correction.
Stage 4
The counselor intervenes not only to offer correction but to add idioms and
more elegant constructions. At this stage the client can become counselor
to the group
Advantages of CLL:

Creating a supportive community to lower student anxiety

Help them overcome threatening affective factors, such as
making errors or competing with peers.

Its emphasis on whole-person learning; the role of a
supportive, non-judgmental teacher.

Community Language learning is a good method for
practicing communication. It is also good method for
beginners who just first study their second language.
Disadvantages of CLL:

The procedure does not ensure that a variety of contexts
necessary for copying in the target culture is included since
the content is determined by the participants.

Students may feel uncomfortable with the apparent lack of
structure or sequence in the introduction of grammatical and
lexical items; that is too much reliance on an inductive
strategy of learning.

It can only be done with small numbers of students. The
students have to share a single mother tongue.

There is no syllabus for CLL, The teacher is too nondirective.

Finally, the success of CLL depended largely on the
translation expertise of the counselor.
Application : Typical Techniques:
•The
•No
use of native language and translation.
text books.
•Cooperative
learning.
•Grammar
and vocabulary are taught
inductively.
•Focusing
on pronunciation, and listening.
•Learning
in somehow or another is directed
by the students.
•Writing
exercises.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx
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https://ww4G9uY8Vq2Yw.youtube.co
m/watch?v=a
The End
Thank you for your
participation