Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)
Communicative Language Teaching — or CLT — is the most widely used approach in modern English teaching. If you only learn one methodology, make it this one.
The core idea
The goal of CLT is simple: help students communicate in English. Not just understand grammar rules — actually use English to get things done in real situations.
What CLT looks like in the classroom
Instead of: "Here are the rules for the present perfect. Now complete these 20 exercises."
CLT looks like: "You and your partner have different information about a travel itinerary. Ask each other questions to complete your schedule."
Students are communicating. They have a real reason to use English. And they are learning while doing it.
✓Common CLT activities
- Role plays — students take on a role and interact in a real-world scenario
- Information gap tasks — students have different information and must talk to complete a task
- Discussions and debates — students share and defend opinions
- Problem-solving tasks — students work together to find a solution
What makes an activity communicative?
A good communicative activity has three things: - A real purpose — students are speaking to achieve something - A choice — students decide what to say and how to say it - Interaction — students must listen and respond to each other
Try This: Take any grammar exercise from a textbook and turn it into a communicative activity. Instead of completing sentences individually, have students ask each other the questions and respond with real answers. That one change makes it communicative.