Core Concepts in Language, Communication, and Pedagogy

Unit 1: Language Definition and Communication Fundamentals

Language Definition and Characteristics

• Yule's Perspectives:
  • Arbitrariness
  • Displacement
  • Specialization (signs produced for communication)
• Language Functions:
  • Seven functions by Jakobson
  • Three functions by Halliday

Communication Definition and Process

• Definition and process of communication
• Communicative competence
• Spoken and Written Language:
  • Historical attitudes
  • Key differences

Factors in the Communication Process

• Key factors in communication
• Language functions (Jakobson)
• Context (Halliday and Hasan)
• Speech Acts:
  • Austin (1962):
    • Definition
    • Locutionary acts
    • Illocutionary acts
    • Perlocutionary acts
  • Searle: Different illocutionary acts:
    • Direct and indirect acts
    • Categories: Directives, Assertives, Commissives, Expressives, Declaratives

Unit 2: Communication in Practice and the Classroom

Communication Definition and Types

• Communication definition and process
• Types of communication (Crystal)
• Communicative factors (Jakobson)

Communication in the Classroom

• Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) and Communicative Approach:
  • Eight functions: Modality, Evaluation, Suasion, Argument, Rational Inquiry, Personal Emotions, Emotional Relations, Interpersonal Relations
  • Five notions by Wilkins and the Council of Europe (1975): Duration, Frequency, Quantity, Dimension, and Location
• Communicative competence
• Communicative acts
• Roles
• Native Speaker Competence: When, Whom, How, Where (Topic, Setting, Participants)

Extralinguistic Communication

• Non-verbal Communication:
  • Crystal: Kinesics and Proxemics
  • Knapp (6 categories): Body language, Physical appearance, Tactiles, Paralanguage, Artifacts, Surroundings
• Total Physical Response (TPR):
  • Before and after implementation
  • Theoretical base
  • James Asher (1974)
  • Five features
  • Objective: To teach oral proficiency at the first levels
  • Action-based drills
  • Examples: Listening training, Production, and Reading

Unit 3: Foreign Language Area and Curriculum Design

Foreign Language Didactic Unit

• Definition of didactic unit
• Level of concretion
• Legislation
• What, when, and how to teach

Learning Situation and Planning

• Definition of learning situation
• Principles: Variety and flexibility
• Pre-planning elements: Student Talking Time (STT), Teacher Talking Time (TTT)

Curricular Elements and Sequencing

• Curricular elements
• Criteria for sequencing timing and objectives (Brewster):
  • Description of the class
  • Students
  • Length and materials
  • 3Ps elements: Students, Process, Skills, Nature of Communication

Communicative Competence: Deeper Dive

In contrast to Chomsky's linguistic competence (1970s), which focused on a process of deduction, input, internal grammar system, and natural resources, communicative competence offers a broader perspective.

• Hymes (1972):
  • Definition of communicative competence
  • Adaptation to context: A native speaker does not only know...
  • Four aspects: Appropriateness, Occurrence, Systematicity, Feasibility
• Savignon (1983): Communicative competence is a dynamic, not static, concept.
• Canale and Swain: Differentiating communicative competence from communicative performance.
• Council of Europe: Sub-competences (as per Royal Decree):
  • Linguistic competence
  • Sociocultural competence
  • Sociolinguistic competence
  • Discourse competence
  • Strategic competence