Teachers' Materials Professional Development

What is Communicative Approach, its Main Features, and Sample Activities to use in EFL/ESL Classes?

July 1, 2018

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The communicative approach, which started as a reaction against the grammar translation method, is based on the idea that learning language successfully comes through having to communicate real meaning. When learners are involved in real communication, their natural strategies for language acquisition will be used, and this will allow them to learn to use the language.

Main Features:

Communicative interaction for communicative activities (Emphasis on meaning rather than form).
Target language used as a natural medium for classroom management and instruction.
Classroom should provide opportunities for rehearsal of real-life situations and provide opportunity for real communication
Emphasis on oral and listening skills in the classroom
Use of everyday language
Use of authentic resources such as newspaper, magazines , manuals, recipes, videos, etc.
Contextualization is a fundamental premise. (Meaning cannot be understood out of context. Teachers using this approach will teach a grammar structure in a meaningful context. Example: If the new topic to teach is Present Continuous, the teacher will not mime the action of ‘walking’ and ask: What am I doing? I am walking. Instead, the teacher will show, say, pictures of her last trip and tell the students something like: I have pictures of my vacation. Look, in this picture I am with my friends. We are having lunch at a very expensive restaurant. In this other picture, we are swimming at the beach.
Communicative competence is the desired goal (i.e., the ability to use the linguistic system effectively and appropriately).
Teaching Vocabulary on usual basis is highly recommended. This will make your students produce more, as well as enhance their receptive skills especially reading.