A Brief Discussion about the Application of Communicative Teaching Approach in C

摘要：交际教学法自1970S诞生以来，在国内外已经成为颇为受欢迎的语言教学法。许多教材都是基于这一教学法编写而成的。交际教学法认为教学内容应该根据实际的交际功能而不是语言形式来安排，以便激发学生的学习兴趣和提高其语言运用能力。从交际教学法出发，本文旨在结合自己的教学经验浅谈下交际教学法在大学英语教学中的运用。

关键词：英语教学；交际教学法；应用

Abstract: Communicative teaching approach has become quite popular language teaching approach at home and abroad since its appearance in 1970s. Many textbooks are based on this method. Communicative language teaching advocates that teaching contents should be aranged according to concrete communicative functions rather than language forms to stimulate students' interest and improve the ability of language performance. Based on the theory of communicative approach, this paper aims to discuss the application of communicative teaching approach in college English teaching combining my teaching experience.

Key words: English teaching; communicative teaching approach; application

1. Introduction

1.1 Theoretical Basis of Communicative Teaching Aapproach

Social linguistics and psychological linguistics are the main theory bases of the approach. And the promininent representatives of social linguistics are J.A.Fishman and D. H. Hymes. Fishman thinks that sociolinguistics should study ‘who speaks what variety of language to whom, where, when, about what topic and with what individual intents and social consequences, etc.’.Hymes’ work "On Communicative Competence" is considered as the direct theoretical basis for this approach. The characteristics of the approach is to carry on communicative teaching combining language structure and language function and it effectively change the condition of dumb English.

1.2 The Necessity of Communicative Approach in College English Teaching

In recent years, China's college English teaching reform are strongly demanded by college teachers and students. And the teaching contents and methods should be improved. More and more students are eager to improve classroom teaching, tired of the traditional jug-and-mug method. Students have been looking forward to the interesting, resourceful and practical teaching environment. The appearance of communicative approach, to a certain extent ease the situation. Language performance ability could be cultivated and improved through the practice of individual students. In this sense, the application of communicative approach is necessary.

2. The Application of Communicative Teaching Approach

Communicative teaching approach is a student-centered teaching method. With the method, the teacher plays the role of guide based on textbooks. In fact, teachers play the role of controller, assessor, organizer, participant, prompter, tutor,facilitator and investigator. Fortunately, I had a chance to teach college English in a college and I organized my lessons using the communicative approach.

2.1 Group Work

The major of the testees is art and design. The overall number is 27. And the whole class can be divided into 9 groups, and each group has 3 people. Because the number of people is small, I divide the whole class into 9 groups. So more students have the chance to speak and practise oral English.

I take the warm-up question: Is there a “generation gap” between you and your parents? If so, how do you try to bridge it? of unit 4 in the textbook of Intensive Reading of College English for example. The testees are required to discuss the question for 10 minutes, and each group choose a representative to give a report in the front of the class. (figure 1)

To my amazement, the students who look very introverted actively participate in the discussion. The participation rate is 85%.

(figure 1)

From the test, the discussion in groups can be very good to eliminate students psychological barriers and this kind of atmosphere enable them to eliminate the timidity psychology, and also can arouse their enthusiasm. Undoubtedly, group discussion create an easy and natural learning environment for them.

2.2Role Play

This kind of method can promote students’enthusiasm, making them overcome shyness and the weaknesses of reluctant to open their mouths. Role play is usually simple and the duration is short. The situation setting is closely related to the text. Therefore the teacher can selectively organize his or her lessons in the form of role play when there are less new words in the text.

Now, I take the text: A Father, a Son and an Answer of unit2 in textbook of the Intensive Reading of College English for example.

This whole text is a dialogue. The students are asked to choose their partners at will. In doing so, it helps to make full use of their advantages. To my delight, there are 12 pairs are eager to perform the dialogue in front of the class.

(figure 2)

And obviously, the participation rate is 88%.(figure 2) And most of them perform well and finish the job wonderfully. They demonstrate the entire text in a vivid way. The participation rates indicate that the communicate approach is accepted by students. To some extent, they consider this approach as a better way to improve their communicative competence.

3.Conclusion

Undoubtedly, communicative teaching approach plays an increasingly prominent role in improving students' English and will be paid more and more attention by teachers. In teaching, we also note that too much emphasis on function will relax the learning language forms. So we strongly advocated communicative approach meanwhile also don't ignore the learning of basic grammars.

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