In order to solve the problems of English teaching and learning in China at present stage, the paper is aimed to briefly introduce my understanding on the one of the most popular teaching methodologies — the Communicative Approach. As a matter of fact, majority of teachers have now gradually realized their importance of using the communicative approach in their teaching jobs. Furthermore, writing, as one of the five inseparable elementary skills of learning English, that is, listening, speaking, reading writing and translating, can be effectively improved only through more day-to-day communication. For convenience in presentation, I have divided my paper into two main parts. The first part of it deals with the problem on how communicative approach can be applied in the English writing, and what kinds of writing activities should be initiated. On the other part of it is to give students some suggestions about how to improve their compositions more quickly.
Keywords: Communicative Approach English teaching learning strategy writing
ABSTRACT I
摘 要 II
1. Problems With English Teaching and Learning in China 1
1.1 Teachers’ Inappropriate Methods to Teach English 1
1.2 Students’ Inappropriate Ways in English Learning 1
2. The Communicative Approach in English Teaching 2
2.1 The Definition of Communicative Approach 2
2.2 Two Principles of Communicative Approach 3
2.2.1 Create More Realistic Situations 3
2.2.2 The Class Should Be Made Students-centered 4
2.3 Some Suggested Activities for Teaching 6
2.3.1 Free Talk or Five-minute Social Report 6
2.3.2 Buzz Group Discussion 6
2.3.3Role-play and English Games 6
2.3.4 Picture Talk 7
2.3.5 Debate and Discussion 7
2.3.6 Information Gap 7
2.3.7 Project Work 7
3. Apply the Communicative Approach to English Writing 8
3.1 What, Why and How for the Learners to Write 8
3.2 The Writing Process 8
3.2.1 Creating a Motivation to Write 9
3.2.2 Outlining 9
3.2.3 Collecting Information 10
3.2.4 Doing Research 10
3.2.5 Drafting 11
3.2.6 Editing 13
3.2.7 Revising 14
3.2.8 Proofreading 14
3.3 Using the Internet to Promote Process Writing 15
3.4 Teachers’ Role in the Learners’ Practical Writing 16
4. The Learning Strategy of Writing 17
4.1 Criteria of a Good Composition 17
4.2 Six Basic Rules for Writing 17
Conclusion 19
References: 20
Acknowledgements 21