Communicative Language Teaching

Communicative Language Teaching &Cognitive-code MethodI. Communicative language teaching(CLT)1.1 Definition and BackgroundThe communicative approach is a teaching method to foreign or second language teaching. The origins of the Communicative Language Teaching are be found in the changes in the British language teaching tradition dating from the late 1900s. It emphasizes interaction as both the means and goals of learning a language. The methods follows a National Syllabus and emphasizes the processes of communication to get information, and using language for social interactions. Although it is not the only form of communication among human beings, it is certainly the most important. English teaching is to teach the students how to communicate with each other, or to train he students’ good and complete language ability------to express their ideas correctly and to easily adjust themselves to every kind of social situation. English teaching thus is the key point to a student’s life. As long as the CLT was introduced to China, it had been applied to language teaching immediately and gradually substitute our traditional teaching methods.1.2 Basic Features of CLTThere are four basic features of CLT(1)It emphasis on learning to communicate through interaction in the target language.(2) It emphasis the learner’s personal experience as important contribution.(3) It correct language learning to real-situation activities both outside and inside the classroom.(4) It is learner-centered and emphasis the learning precess itself.These four features clearly claimed that the CLT are very interested in the need and the desire as well as the communication of learners.1.3 Teacher and Students’ RolesIn the CLT, the teacher serves as more of a facilitator, allowing students to be in the charge of their own learning process. They served as a organizer, adviser, facilitator and participant. As for the students, in CLT, students are asked to practice real-life situations. In these exercises, the goal is that the students need to communicate his or her needs and thoughts without caring about the correct grammar and sentence pattern. So everyone ca take part in the practice actively. In stead of the listeners, students are the manager, master and participant of their own study.1.4 Classroom ActivitiesNumerous of materials and aids can be used to support the communicative language teaching. Here is the criteria for CLT.(1)communicative purpose(2)Communicative desires(3)Focus on content, not the from(4)Variety of language(5)No teacher intervention(6)No material controlActivities examples: role play. Tell personal experience and information exchange, picture stirp story, etc..In the classroom of CLT often takes the form of paris ans group and it require the negotiation and cooperation between learners. activities can encourage and develop the competence and skills.1.5 Evaluation of CLTCommunicative language teaching focus on the students-centered teaching practice. It simulates students curiosity and interest in learning and they can have good opportunities to have practice in learning. It ensures the results of learning process. One of the obvious benefit of this method is that the students are more responsible of their own learning than in a traditional teacher-centered classroom. Thus the relation ship between teachers and the students is interactive and harmonious. However, it still nee improving. Students’need of language input and practice needs the teacher to balance. As a results, this method need more skill than other approaches.II.The Cognitive-code Method2.1 Definition and BackgroundThe cognitive-code method is an approach to foreign languageteaching which is based on the belief that language learning is a process which involves active method processes and not simply the forming of habits. It lays emphasis on the conscious acquisition of language as a meaningful system. In the 1960s, the pedagogy, psychology and linguistics hand enjoyed their great development in American. As a result, the cognitive-code method comes into being. And the new approach absorbed beneficial theories for itself from those developed schools. This method is different from the CLT because it focus much more on the mental process of students2.1 Main FeaturesThere are sis main features of the cognitive-code method(1)students-centered, teacher guides and stimulate students to learn;(2)It focus on students’ ability of language competence;(3)Against audio-lingual comes first,gives equal important in the four skills;(4)Widely use teaching aids and materials to help in teaching;(5)Emphasis understand rather than recite;(6)Teacher can use their mother language to explain if necessary.This method emphasis the mental process of the students, and deal with the study of natures and learning of systems of knowledge. Students should have their own understand and ideas and be allowed to creat their own sentence.1.3 Role of Teacher and StudentsTeacher is the facilitator and guide of classroom. They stimulate students’ motivation and interest of learning, and guide them to find new things or rules from practice and new materials. Then offer them opportunities, materials, situations to do exercise. While students are the main part of classroom, they need to learn spontaneously and understand by heart.1.4 Classroom ActivitiesClassroom activities must focus on students feels and opinions. Also they can design activities they like. The aim of these activities is to let student learner new things from real-doing. Activities examples: learner primary practice, retell text use your own words, describing pictures, making sentences etc..1.5 EvaluationThe theory attaches more important to the learner’s understanding of the structure of the foreign language than to the facility in using the structure or the grammar. It is believed that it provide the students a proper degree of control and it will automatically help the students use the language in meaningful situation. However. It is difficult to select and prepare materials. In addition, because it is focus on the personal understanding , experience and analysis, thus it is suitable for adult language learners.。