CLT Basics
What does CLT stand for?
Communicative Language Teaching.
What is communicative competence?
It is the ability to use language appropriately and effectively in different contexts.
What does learner-centeredness mean in CLT?
Students are active participants who communicate, collaborate, analyze information, and solve problems.
What is the primary goal of CLT?
To develop learners’ ability to use language as a means of meaningful communication.
What is one important feature of teaching specialized subjects through CLT?
Connecting language learning with academic and professional communication.
How does CLT differ from traditional approaches?
CLT emphasizes meaningful interaction and functional language use, rather than mainly grammar, memorization, and translation.
What are the four dimensions of communicative competence?
Linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competence.
What does authenticity mean in CLT?
Learning materials and activities should reflect real-life and professional communication.
Why are authentic materials important in CLT?
They expose students to language as it is actually used outside the classroom, including academic and professional contexts.
Name two examples of authentic professional materials.
Academic articles and professional correspondence. Other examples include presentations, reports, interviews, and workplace situations
Why does CLT consider language a means of social interaction?
Because learners need to use language to exchange information, express ideas, negotiate meaning, participate in discussions, and perform professional tasks.
What is discourse competence?
It is the ability to connect sentences and ideas logically to create meaningful spoken or written communication.
Why are the four language skills integrated in CLT?
Because authentic communication often requires listening, speaking, reading, and writing together, rather than as isolated skills.
What is the role of collaborative learning in CLT?
It allows students to exchange knowledge, negotiate meaning, and develop interpersonal and professional skills.
Why is CLT particularly relevant to higher education?
Because academic and professional environments require students to communicate, collaborate, exchange knowledge, and perform professional tasks.
Why is grammar alone insufficient for communicative competence?
Grammar provides linguistic accuracy, but effective communication also requires contextual appropriateness, logical organization, and strategies for overcoming communication difficulties.
How does sociolinguistic competence differ from linguistic competence?
Linguistic competence concerns knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence structure, while sociolinguistic competence concerns using language appropriately in a particular social or professional context.
Why should CLT balance fluency and accuracy?
Fluency enables learners to communicate smoothly and confidently, while accuracy ensures that their language is correct and comprehensible. Both contribute to effective communication.
How does the teacher’s role change in CLT?
The teacher shifts from being the primary source of knowledge to a facilitator, organizer, advisor, monitor, and provider of feedback.
How can CLT connect theoretical knowledge with professional practice?
By using authentic professional situations, discussions, presentations, collaborative tasks, and problem-solving activities, students apply theoretical knowledge through meaningful communication.
Critically evaluate the statement: “Knowing grammar means knowing a language.”
The statement is incomplete from a CLT perspective. Grammar is essential for linguistic competence, but effective communication also requires sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competence.
How do the four dimensions of communicative competence interact during professional communication?
Linguistic competence provides accurate language; sociolinguistic competence ensures appropriateness; discourse competence organizes ideas logically; and strategic competence helps overcome communication problems.
Evaluate the statement: “Student-centered learning makes the teacher less important.”
This is incorrect. In CLT, the teacher’s role becomes more facilitative and strategic: the teacher designs communicative tasks, monitors interaction, supports learners, and provides feedback.
How do collaboration and authentic communication contribute to professional competence?
They allow students to practice knowledge exchange, negotiation, interaction, and teamwork in contexts that resemble real academic and professional environments.
Design a CLT activity for Master's students studying Education and justify its pedagogical value.
Students could analyze a classroom case in groups, discuss possible solutions, negotiate a common recommendation, and present it. The activity develops communicative competence, critical thinking, collaboration, and professional problem-solving.