The Communicative The Communicative Activities SyllabusActivities Syllabus

Johana Cifuentes AlvarezJohana Cifuentes Alvarez

Characteristics of a Communicative Characteristics of a Communicative Activities Syllabus (C.A.S)Activities Syllabus (C.A.S)

Authentic-real CommunicationAuthentic-real CommunicationCommunicative PurposeCommunicative PurposeFocus on Meaning not formFocus on Meaning not formLearner’s personal involvementLearner’s personal involvementCommunication from the beginningCommunication from the beginningUnpredictablilityUnpredictablility Integration of SkillsIntegration of Skills

Arguments favoring the C.A.SArguments favoring the C.A.S Code Communication DilemmaCode Communication Dilemma Problems in formal code teachingProblems in formal code teaching

The Humpty Dumpty EffectThe Humpty Dumpty Effect The Complexity of the Linguistic SystemThe Complexity of the Linguistic System The Transfer levelThe Transfer level

Subconscious learning EncouragementSubconscious learning Encouragement Coping techniques developmentCoping techniques development Personal Relationship with the communityPersonal Relationship with the community ““To be effective, the move from formal study to To be effective, the move from formal study to

language use has to occur repeatedly during the language use has to occur repeatedly during the learning process” (Stern: 1992)learning process” (Stern: 1992)

COMMUNICATION IN A COMMUNICATION IN A NATURAL SETTINGNATURAL SETTING

Contact with a variety of Contact with a variety of target language speakerstarget language speakers

Access to diverse target Access to diverse target language settingslanguage settings

Opportunity for Authentic Opportunity for Authentic Language UseLanguage Use

Capacity for Personal Capacity for Personal InvolvementInvolvement

WAYS TO RECTIFY WAYS TO RECTIFY THESE THESE SHORTCOMINGS IN SHORTCOMINGS IN THE CLASSROOMTHE CLASSROOM

Field experiencesField experiences

Contrived Arrangements Contrived Arrangements (Classroom (Classroom management)management)

Classroom Activities – Classroom Activities – ‘mini-immersion’ ‘mini-immersion’ weekends – clubsweekends – clubs

Depends more on the Depends more on the studentsstudents

The teacher can help the The teacher can help the sts to cultivate interest in sts to cultivate interest in the target country.the target country.

Communicative Activities in the Communicative Activities in the Language ClassLanguage Class

The Conduct of the Language ClassThe Conduct of the Language ClassInstructionsInstructionsGeneral Classroom ManagementGeneral Classroom Management

Topics arising from and relevant to the Topics arising from and relevant to the learner’s personal lifelearner’s personal life

Self, personal background and daily lifeSelf, personal background and daily life SchoolingSchooling FamilyFamily Personal interests and activitiesPersonal interests and activities Professional ActivitiesProfessional Activities Personal beliefsPersonal beliefs

Communicative Activities in the Communicative Activities in the Language ClassLanguage Class

Substantive TopicsSubstantive Topics Topics of Educational RelevanceTopics of Educational Relevance Subject MattersSubject Matters Literary TextsLiterary Texts Planning TripsPlanning Trips

Communicative ExercisesCommunicative Exercises Giving and Following instructionsGiving and Following instructions Information TransferInformation Transfer Information GapInformation Gap The Jigsaw principalThe Jigsaw principal Problem Solving Problem Solving

Levels of DifficultyLevels of Difficulty

The Predictability - unpredictability The Predictability - unpredictability dimensiondimension

The Receptive – Productive FactorThe Receptive – Productive FactorLength of UtteranceLength of UtteranceContextual SupportContextual SupportLinguistic Complexity of ContentLinguistic Complexity of ContentStressStress

ReferencesReferences““Imported” Communicative Language Imported” Communicative Language

Teaching Implications for Local teachers. Teaching Implications for Local teachers. In: Forum Magazine. Volume 43, Number In: Forum Magazine. Volume 43, Number 4, 2005.4, 2005.

Stern, H.H. (1992). Issues and Options in Stern, H.H. (1992). Issues and Options in Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press. University Press.

Watcyn-Jones, Peter. Top Class Activities. Watcyn-Jones, Peter. Top Class Activities. England: Penguin England: Penguin

Thanks !Thanks !

Thanks !Thanks !