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    The implementation of communicative language teaching (CLT) in an English department in a Lao higher educational institution : a case study

    Vongxay, Hongkham

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    Date
    2013
    Citation:
    Vongxay, H. (2013). The implementation of communicative language teaching (CLT) in an English department in a Lao higher educational institution : a case study. An unpublished thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Education, Unitec Institute of Technology, New Zealand.
    Permanent link to Research Bank record:
    https://hdl.handle.net/10652/2317
    Abstract
    English language is an international language used in order to communicate in the fields of education, technology, trade and politics so that it is learnt as a foreign language in many countries around the world. Due to the importance and necessity to communicate in English, in recent decades many EFL countries as well as Lao higher educational institutions have shifted from traditional grammar-based teaching method to communicative-focused instruction. However, some research has reported that there is still has a gap between schools’ language policy and classrooms’ practices. This study explores the understandings and attitudes of English teachers in adopting a Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach into their classrooms. It investigates factors that promote or hinder EFL teachers’ implementation of this teaching approach into Lao higher educational institutions English classrooms. It also examines the syllabi that influence them in teaching communicative English. This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of English teachers in a Department of English and a case study approach was applied in order to explore teachers’ understandings of CLT. Ten English teachers from one department in a Lao higher education institution were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The study compares the literature about communicative English teaching with the findings of data collected from these ten one-to-one, in-depth interviews in the same setting.The findings indicated that the factors that affected the implementation of CLT in the Lao context related to teachers’ factors include: misconceptions of CLT, traditional grammar-based teaching approach, teachers’ English proficiency and lack of CLT training. The issues raised from students include: students’ low English proficiency, students’ learning styles and behaviours, and lack of motivation to develop communicative competence. Other difficulties caused by educational system were: the power of the examination, class size, and insufficient funding to support CLT and the last factors caused by CLT itself was: the lack of CLT interaction in society and school. The study also provides a range of practical recommendations for the faculty deans, senior managers at higher educational institutions, ministry educators and policy-makers to further improve implementation of CLT and to help ensure the success in implementing this approach in Lao higher educational institutions.
    Keywords:
    EFL, English as a Foreign Language, Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), English language teaching in Laos, Lao PDR, higher educational institutions
    ANZSRC Field of Research:
    130207 LOTE, ESL and TESOL Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl. Māori)
    Degree:
    Master of Education
    Supervisors:
    Benseman, John; Howse, Jo
    Rights:
    This digital work is protected by copyright. It may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. You will recognise the author's and publishers rights and give due acknowledgement where appropriate.
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