Recent linguistic research has focused on the actual uses or functions of language. Parallel to the development of discourse analysis, traditional language learning and teaching philosophies and methodologies have been supplemented or replaced by functional approaches, focusing on developing communicative competence, beyond strictly grammatical…

Findings of sociolinguistic research that can be used by language teachers to elicit meaningful and authentic communication from their students are reviewed, including such factors as nonverbal cues, situation, intent, mood, and cultural norms. (MSE)

Both the theoretical basis of functional-notionalism and its practical classroom applications are discussed in this text. The major characteristic of the functional-notional approach to language teaching is a sensitivity to the individual needs of students. Based on the idea that the ability to use real, appropriate language to communicate with…

Compares the language generated by different kinds of oral communication activities. Areas of comparison include: speed of speaking, frequency of turns taken, and frequency of self-correction. Results indicate that the relative degree to which a student draws on his communicative and linguistic resources seems to be related to the communication…

This text is a compilation of articles focusing on second language teaching, second language learning, and learning materials. Written in honor of Dr. Mary Finocchiaro, it epitomizes her work in the field of language teaching by presenting both theory and practice in the second language classroom. The articles include (1) "What is Second Language…

An introduction to the theoretical bases of communicative language teaching and a guide to building a second language program consonant with those theories are presented for classroom teachers and teachers in training. After examining the issues underlying recent developments in second language teaching, an overview is presented of the research…