Week 7

Teaching goals and methods

From The Essentials of Language Teaching

www.nclrc.org/essentials

Remarks

The goal here is the communicative competence, which is the ability to use the language in the right way. As the text goes ``the desired outcome of the language learning process is the ability to communicate competently, not the ability to use the language exactly as a native speaker does`` (NCRLC, 2007). So, anyone who uses the language correctly even if he/she is not a native speaker can be considered as competent. ``Communicative competence is made up of four competence areas: linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic`` (NCRLC, 2007). All these areas complement each other and make up the general competency of a person.

``Learner-centered instruction encourages students to take responsibility for their own language skill development and helps them gain confidence in their ability to learn and use the language. Teachers support students by devoting some class time to non-traditional activities, including teaching learners how to use learning strategies, how to use available tools and resources, and how to reflect on their own learning`` (NCRLC, 2007). Indeed, every single student should and must take responsibility for his/her own learning and study. I remember when I was starting to learn English I used to study many hours besides the regular lessons that I received in school and I knew that it was what helped me the most because the lesson gotten in school were very poor and scant.

The key to master a language is immersion, practice and more practice until you become competent in all its areas and then you keep on practicing to polish it and stabilize it.

Bibliography

NCRLC. (2007). The Essentials of Language Teaching. Retrieved 2011, from The Essentials of Language Teaching: http://www.nclrc.org/essentialsA