Dear reviewers and future colleagues,

Dear reviewers and future colleagues,

I’m Veronica and I’m taking the course Teach English Now! Foundational Principles.

I’d like discuss the differences between the Comprehension Approach and the Communicative
Approach'.

First of all, the comprehension Approach focuses mostly on the understanding of the language,
written or spoken. It uses different kind of actions, more specifically imitation of them in order to
make the meaning clear. For example, a teacher is asking students to sit down by imitation the action
to make it visibly clear what should be done. This method uses the silent period during which
students listen trying to comprehend the information. Also, this helps to gain confidence as when a
student feels anxious it lowers the motivation and focus on the language as well. The most important
thing is to encourage students to grasp the meaning before they start speaking. Role reversal is also
one of the methods. When the students with a higher-level change places with the teacher trying to
roleplay.

On the other hand, the Communicative Approach emphasis on real-life communication. It aims to
develop students’ ability to use language fluently. The most important thing is to communicate
effectively than focusing on grammar. This approach helps learners love other cultures; it connects
people together. This method includes role plays of the real-life situation to get students involved
into the language and the situation itself; information gap exercises, language games, gamification,
where students are motivated to learn the language by having fun during the game.

So, the Comprehension Approach focuses mostly on the understanding of the language, on the
analyze of it. The making of connections between the form, meaning and the context is crucial. The
Communicative Approach promotes real-life communication skills. This method is for the situation
when there isn’t enough time to grasp the language as in the Comprehension Approach.

Personally, both approaches seem useful to me. In the Comprehension Approach I’d use the method
of understanding the meaning, connection the form and the context as well as the significance.
Provide students with visual aid in order to grasp the meaning, observable actions, use any kind of
objects to connect them with the language. That way there almost won’t be necessary to use the
native language of the students. That will mean, that there will be nearly almost immersion into the
language. However, I’d use some of the method from the Communication Approach, especially if the
aim of the students is to use the language for their work or travel as they don’t have much time to
learn all of the aspects of the language. They need to speak the language for commination. That
makes the role play of the real-life communication quite useful as a method. With children, for
example, I’d use the gamification as it becomes a good tool to motivate them.

In terms of instructional techniques, the Comprehension Approach often employs

explicit teaching of vocabulary and grammar rules, followed by guided practice
activities. It emphasizes the use of authentic materials to expose learners to natural
language use. Learners are encouraged to analyze and understand the language
components, enabling them to make connections between the form, meaning, and
context. In contrast, the Communicative Approach promotes student-centered activities
where learners actively engage in communication. Pair and group work are commonly
used to simulate real-life communication scenarios, allowing learners to practice
language functions and negotiate meaning collaboratively. Error correction is typically
provided in a supportive and constructive manner, focusing on communication
effectiveness rather than mere accuracy.

While the Comprehension Approach prioritizes comprehension skills and understanding

language forms, the Communicative Approach places greater emphasis on developing
communication skills and fostering authentic language use. The former focuses on
receptive skills and grammatical knowledge, whereas the latter emphasizes productive
skills and fluency. However, it is important to note that these approaches are not
mutually exclusive, and many language teaching methodologies incorporate elements
of both approaches, adapting them to meet the specific needs of learners.

In conclusion, the Comprehension Approach and the Communicative Approach differ in

their focus and instructional techniques. The former centers on understanding and
interpreting language, while the latter prioritizes real-life communication. By
understanding the distinctions between these approaches, language teachers can make
informed decisions regarding their instructional methods and effectively meet the
diverse needs of learners.