Curious about what a communicative approach means in language teaching/learning? This is a packed bullet list with the most relevant ideas of this approach.

• The CA is a teaching methodology developed with a focus on COMMUNICATION: the practical use of the target language rather than on its pure formal aspects.
• The CA is based on FUNCTIONS: the concrete use we give to language. For example, “greeting people”, “asking for repetition”, “reacting to good news”.
• CA highlights the importance of real communication for learning to take place: When learners are involved in real communication, their natural strategies for language acquisition will be used to learn to use the language.
• Formal aspects of the language tend to be the “boring” part of the adventure when considered by themselves – detached from all context.
• A CA to teaching favours lesson aims that will help students practice and develop their linguistic competence, rather than their grammatical competence.
• This does not mean that grammar is not addressed. Within the CA the student learns the relevant functions (grammar+vocabulary) they need in order to communicate effectively in the target language in concrete situations. (e.g. introducing yourself, apologizing, describing people, etc.)
• This means that the intention or needs of the speaker define the “ingredients” we will need to incorporate in order to communicate what they need to successfully.
• The CA aims at guiding student learning and providing them with language exponents used in the “real world”. No student finds pleasure in discovering that what was learnt in class shows useless once they left the classroom.

Like everything else in language learning, there is no fixed rule or orthodoxy, and each case is different. Want to see the communicative approach in action? Please, feel free to visit the lessons menu.

Happy Spanish learning,