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SLA Lecture Notes 5
SLA Lecture Notes 5
Lecture 5
Communicative Competence
In this lecture
What does teaching have to do with communicative competence?
The construct of communicative competence
Communication in the classroom
Underlying theories of CLT (Communicative Language Teaching)
Communication strategies for Strategic Competence
Underlying theory:
1) Theory of Language
2) Theory of Learning
Theory of Language
1 Language is a system for the expression of meaning.
2 Language is for interaction and communication.
3 Structure reflects functional and communicative uses of language.
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4 Primary units of language: categories of functional and communicative meaning
as exemplified in discourse.
Theory of Learning
Communication
1 is a form of social interaction
2 involves unpredictability and creativity
3 takes place in contexts: discourse & sociocultural
4 always has a purpose
5 is carried out under limiting conditions
6 involves authentic language
7 is judged as successful on the basis of outcomes
Communication involves
the exchange & negotiation of information/meaning between at least two
individuals through the use of verbal or non-verbal symbols, oral or written/visual
modes-
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Selected features of Communicative Language Teaching
meaning is paramount
contextualization and authenticity are basic
dialogues are not memorized
judicious use of L1 accepted
comprehensible pronunciation is the goal
teachers help learners in any way that motivates them to work with the L2
fluency precedes accuracy
students learn best through struggling to communicate
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What does it all mean for the communicative teacher?
Put the learner into situations when they have to struggle:
they have a goal
they are motivated
they get feedback
they focus on the meaning
Make it rewarding:
L2 learners’ struggle:
Limited language knowledge
Solution: develop strategic competence
Strategic competence concerns the ability to express oneself in the face of
difficulties or limited language knowledge
Strategic competence
is the mastery of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies, which can
enable us to
overcome difficulties when communication breakdowns occur
and to enhance the effectiveness of communication (e.g.: slow down,
paraphrase) .
Strategic competence
We conceptualize strategic competence as knowledge of communication
strategies and how to use them.
(Celce Murcia, et al, 1995)
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fillers
hesitation devices
gambits
repetitions (e.g., repeating what the other has said while thinking).
Appeals for help are similar to achievement strategies in function but through
using them the learner exploits his/her interlocutor's knowledge rather than
manipulating his/her own language resources.
Other strategies:
Going off the point
Avoiding giving information
Steering the conversation
Interruptions
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