Communicative Language Teaching: Possible Alternative Approaches to CLT and Teaching Contexts

Abstract

There are various approaches of language teaching, in which communicative language teaching is the dominant approach worldwide. CLT approach allows language learners to express themselves and their views through collaborative activities undertaken during classes. This descriptive study has discussed CLT, offering both advantages and limitations. The CLT approach has led to major changes in such ways, in which language is taught and learnt. CLT aims to make “commnicative competence” the goal of language teaching and to develop procedures for teaching the four language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It is well known that CLT approach allows language learners to express themselves and their views through collaborative activities, undertaken during classes. CLT, which is applied in schools, universities, colleges, and language institutes in most countries worldwide, stimulates learners’ interests in learning by infusing the learning environment with new types of activities and materials that are both interactive and authentic. CLT is becoming a major language and its being used worldwide. The learners of the language are more focused towards learning the concepts. The emphasize is not towards understanding the language structures and lexical collocations. The main aim of the CLT is to make individuals competent in communication.