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:
1.
Role play.
2.
Games that involves communicative
activities.
3.
Information gaps.
4.
pair work, group work.
5.
Surveys .
6.
Interviews.
7.
Textbooks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=20zBOWrP2yc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=3kRT-rsKxn4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=Bu3KHC1DRFM
The End
Thank you for your
participation