Communicativecompetence

forthe21stcentury

AllenAscherPRC,2016Whatiscommunicativecompetence?

Whyisitimportant?

Howcanwehelplearnersachieveit?

MayIcallyouAllen?LetmemakesureI’vespelledyourfirstnameright…AasinAsia,doubleLasinLondon,EasinEdinburgh,NasinNewYork.Isthatcorrect?Don’tworry,Allen.I’mheretohelpyou.We’regoingtoresolveyourproblemtoday.I’msosorrytohearyou’rehavingaproblemwithyourcomputer.Why?Morethan80%ofEnglishspeakersarenotnativespeakers,and:

AshiftfromEnglishasaforeignlanguage…

…toEnglishasalifeskillRecognitionofinternationalstandardsTheCEFRcommunicativecompetencieslinguisticcompetence

knowledgeofandmasteryofgrammar,syntaxandvocabulary

sociolinguisticcompetence

theabilitytoexpressandrespondtosocialintentpragmaticcompetence

theabilitytoadaptandimproviseduringinteractionLinguisticcompetenceKnowledgeofandmasteryofgrammar,syntaxandvocabularyThechallengeoftheEFLsettingLackofexposureMonolingualclassesTheconversationmodel“Practicetheconversation”Roy: Whatarewegoingtodoforourclassfieldtrip?Jim: Whenisitgoingtobe?Roy: It'sgoingtobeonSaturday.Jim: Wherearewegoingtogo?Roy: Thestudentswanttogotothe naturepark.Jim: OK.Andwe'regoingtohavea picnic.Whatarewegoingtoneed?Roy: Mystudentsaregoingtobringthesandwichesand drinks.Andwhataboutyourstudents?Jim: They'regoingtobringsaladsandsnacks.Kate: Whereareyoufrom?Aldo: Canada.Kate: Andwhere’syourfamily—hereorinCanada?Aldo: InCanada.Kate: Whatdoesyourmotherdo?Aldo: She’sadoctor.SheworksinahospitalinVancouver.Kate: Doyouhaveanybrothersorsisters?Aldo: Ihaveasisterandabrother.One’sateacher,andone’sanurse.Kate: Howoldarethey?Aldo: Mysister’stwentyandmybrother’stwenty-six.A: Whereareyoufrom?B: A: Howoldareyou?B: A: Howmuchmoneydoyoumake?B: A: HowmanyplaceshaveyouvisitedinChina?B: A: Areyouaccustomedtothelifehere?B: ThefivequestionsA: Whereareyoufrom?B: NewYork.A: Howoldareyou?B: 33.A: Howmuchmoneydoyoumake?B: That’sprivate.A: HowmanyplaceshaveyouvisitedinChina?B: Letmethink...A: Areyouaccustomedtothelifehere?B: MorethanwhenIfirstarrived.Isthisaconversation?AuthenticityBUILDINGLINGUISTICCOMPETENCE

Integrationofsociallanguage,grammar,

andvocabulary“Practicetheconversation”“Practicetheconversation.”Let’strytoadaptthisusinganotherapplianceBuildinglinguisticcompetenceAdaptabilityTodevelopcommunicativecompetence,conversationmodelsneedtobe:authentic/socialadaptablememorableLinguisticcompetencerequiresintensiveinputandoutputMultipleexposurestonewlanguageMultipleopportunitiestopracticeitIntensiveandsystematicrecyclingChangethemodel.Switchroles…ChangepartnersSociolinguisticcompetencetheabilitytoexpressandrespondtosocialintentshowsympathyOhno!Howawful!I’msorrytohearthat!That’sterrible!TRANSERABLEA:Mycomputercrashed!A:Mykidsaresick.A:Igotfired!A:Someonestolemypassport!showreliefThankgoodness!Whatarelief!That’sgood!describewhathappeneddescribewhathappeneddescribetheresultSocially-appropriateintonationTodevelopsociolinguisticcompetence,learnersneedtolearnandpractice…high-frequencysociallanguagesociallyappropriatedeliveryPragmaticcompetencetheabilitytoadaptandimproviseduringinteractionrequiressocially-appropriateresponsesI’mfine.Noonewashurt.Thankgoodness.Changethemodel…Actually,Ihadtogotothehospital.Thankgoodness.ActiveListeningActually,Ihadtogotothehospital.Howawful!ADAPT:ActiveListeningActually,I’llhavetobuyanewcar.Thankgoodness!Pragmaticcompetence

AconversationmodelistheBEGINNINGofaconversation….

Pragmaticcompetence

IMPROVISE:Don’tstop!Givemoredetails.Askmorequestions.Sayasmuchasyoucan.PreparingtospeakWhatotherkindsofdetailscouldbediscussed?Whatotherquestionscouldbeasked?Conversationactivatorvideo:

formoresupportandproductivityChangethemodelvs.improvisationADAPTandIMPROVISE:SwitchrolesChangepartnersBUILDINGPRAGMATICCOMPETENCEFreediscussionDiscussgoodandbaddrivinghabits.WhatamIgoingtosay?ArehearsalforreallifediscussionsFreediscussionBuildingcommunicativecompetence

Idea-framingNotepaddingIncreasequalityandquantityofexpressionCommunicativecompetenceUnderstandand