BLOQUE I

Question 1

What is the main goal of the Communicative Approach to language teaching?

Answer 1

The main goal of the Communicative Approach is to develop students’ communicative competence, which includes both using the language effectively and understanding the social rules of communication.

Question 2

According to Halliday, what elements are involved in communication?

Answer 2

Halliday defined communication as the exchange and negotiation of information between at least two individuals using verbal and non-verbal symbols, oral and written forms, and involving production and comprehension processes.

Question 3

What three generalizations does Jeremy Harmer make about speakers in communication?

Answer 3

Harmer states that speakers:
1. Want to say something.
2. Have a communicative purpose.
3. Select from their language store to create sentences.

Question 4

What is the primary goal of the Communicative Approach in language teaching?

Answer 4

The primary goal of the Communicative Approach is to develop communicative competence, which includes linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competences.

Question 5

What are the three main principles of CLT practices, according to Richards and Rodgers?

Answer 5

The three main principles are:
1. The communication principle: Real communication promotes learning.
2. The task principle: Meaningful tasks enhance learning.
3. The meaningfulness principle: Language must be meaningful to the student to support learning.

Question 6

What is the difference between grammatical competence and communicative competence?

Answer 6

Grammatical competence refers to knowledge of grammar rules and sentence formation, while communicative competence involves the ability to use language effectively for meaningful communication.

Question 7

What is the key difference between Chomsky’s and Hymes’ views on competence?

Answer 7

Chomsky’s theory focuses on linguistic competence, meaning knowledge of the language system, while Hymes’ concept of communicative competence includes the ability to use language appropriately in social and cultural contexts.

Question 8

What are the four components of communicative competence, according to Canale and Swain?

Answer 8

The four components are:
1. Grammatical competence: Knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and spelling.
2. Sociolinguistic competence: Understanding sociocultural rules of language use.
3. Discourse competence: Using cohesion and coherence to communicate effectively in different text types or genres.
4. Strategic competence: Using strategies to enhance communication and overcome breakdowns.

Question 9

What are the characteristics of effective input in the Communicative Approach?

Answer 9

Effective input should be:
1. Comprehensible: Simplified and supported by aids such as drawings, sounds, or expressions to ensure understanding.
2. Relevant: Related to students’ interests and applicable to a wide range of situations.
3. Slightly Advanced: Slightly more complex than the students’ current level of knowledge.
4. Contextualized: Supported by context to aid comprehension and learning.

Question 10

What roles do teachers and learners play in the Communicative Approach?

Answer 10

• Teacher roles:
1. Informant: Presenting new language clearly and memorably.
2. Facilitator: Organizing communicative activities and interactions.
3. Participant: Actively engaging as part of the group.
4. Monitor: Overseeing students’ performance.
• Learner roles:
1. Active participants: Taking responsibility for their learning, including self-evaluation.
2. Contributors: Sharing opinions, feelings, and motivations.
3. Autonomous learners: Encouraged to work independently from the teacher.