Communicative Language Teaching:

An Introduction

William Littlewood

4. Functional Communication Activities

4.1 Introduction. The teacher structures the situation so the learners have to overcome an information gap or solve a problem. Learners must work towards a definite solution or decision.

Share
Share may or may not be governed by rules which restrict the learners freedom to cooperate fully in exchanging information.
1. 2. 3. 4. Sharing information with restricted cooperation Sharing information with unrestricted information Sharing and processing information Processing information

Sharing information with restricted cooperation

A Lerner possesses information which another learner must discover
Student A He has all information He isnt allowed to cooperate fully He only answers to appropriate cues. Student B Only ask with specific question

Identifying pictures
Student A has some pictures, each picture has a difference Student B choose a picture or the teacher give him, and the student A has to make question him about it. The level of difficulty is determined by characteristics of the picture and how many things are there?

Discovering identical pairs

4 similar pictures are distributing among four students. A 5th student has a duplicate of one of picture and he needs to make question for finding a identical picture.

Discovering sequences or locations

Student A has 6 pictures, from one to six. Student B has the same pictures in disorder. Student B needs to discover the sequence of As. In a map or a plane. A & B have the same map or plane with the same people and buildings. A knows where are the position of people and buildings B needs to discover the location of people and buildings

Discovering missing information

Student A has information in a table Student B needs to complete his table with some information from A Both will interchange different items of information for getting all information

Discovering missing features

Student A has a picture Student B has the same picture, except that various items have been deleted. Student A finds out which details have not been reproduced in Bs pictures.

Discovering secrets
One student has a piece of secret information, which the other in his class or groups must discover by asking appropriate question.

Some variation in organisation

The teacher can vary the organisation of these activities to suit specific circumstances.

4.3 sharing information with unrestricted cooperation

The student can to transmit information, wherever he want Communicating patterns and pictures Student A has an assortment of shapes, which he arranges into a pattern Student B has the same shapes. They must communicate with other so that B can reproduce as exactly as possible the same pattern as A.

Communicating models
Studen or Group A construct a model The studen or group B has the same pieces and must construct an identical model, Following As verbal instructions. B can not see As action, otherwise he will simply imitate them. A can see Bs action.

Discovering differences
There are some different pictures. Students discover difference about them. Following directions A & B have identical maps, only A knows the location A knows the exact location of some building or other feature. He must direct B to the correct spot