Communicative Language Teaching

Start with the principles

The mind map Communicative Language Teaching introduces the origins of the approach and changes in the British language teaching tradition. Start there if you want a view of where the approach came from. Then look at Communicative Approaches/CLT, which brings together a definition, characteristics and teacher and learner roles.

As you read, note how each map presents communication and the roles of people in the classroom. The maps offer different starting points, so you can compare their emphasis rather than relying on one overview.

Explore classroom communication

Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) describes interaction and problem solving as part of language learning. Current trends in CLT includes ideas about meaningful communication, learners, teachers and classroom learning. These maps can help you move from an overview of the approach to questions about how communication features in teaching.

Language Ability offers another view, with branches on communicative competence, knowledge and other aspects of language ability. Compare those branches with the concepts you noted in the introductory maps.

Use the quiz alongside maps

The page also lists a quiz. Open it to see its questions, then use the relevant mind maps to look again at any ideas you want to explore. The maps can provide a way to organize terms and connections while you study; the quiz offers a different format to work with.

Place the topic in its unit

Communicative Language Teaching is a section of the Language Teaching Methods and Approaches unit in Education and pedagogy (incl. teaching methods, curriculum, educational psychology). The maps on this page give you material for exploring that section within the wider unit. Pick a map that interests you and use it to organize your next study session.