Book review: Communicative Language Teaching: An Introduction (2010)

Abstract

Definition of ‘language’ has been changed throughout the years. Accordingly, the scope of linguistics and the ways of language teaching have also changed. The language was previously studied in a structural view. In other words, language learning referred to knowing the grammatical rules and having linguistic knowledge. However, learners were unable to use the language, namely unable to communicate. Being able to communicate requires more than mastering linguistic structures (Hymes, 1972 and Canale and Swain, 1980). For these reasons, communicative language teaching approach revealed as the product of educators who were dissatisfied with the grammar translation and audiolingual methods. In this respect, “Communicative Language Teaching”, a kind of introduction book, can be a guide for researchers, teachers, under- graduate and post graduate students.