Rethinking Communicative Language Teaching in College English Teaching: Strategies and Lesson Plan

Oral English competence is crucial for the learners’ life and potential professional success. Numerous studies on communicative language teaching were conducted; however, there is a dearth of literature on the application of CLT strategies in Chinese vocational colleges. The objective of this study was to identify CLT techniques that can improve the oral English skills of vocational college students in China. Specifically, it sought to answer the following: (1) What CLT strategies can be adapted for improving the oral proficiency of Chinese vocational college students? (2) What activities can be designed integrating adapted CLT strategies to help enhance Chinese vocational college students’ oral proficiency? The study made use of a developmental research design using systematic document analysis as the method. Findings showed that group-oriented CLT strategies like role-play, pair and group work, interviews, information gap activities, etc., and individual-oriented CLT tactics like storytelling, picture description, and opinion-sharing activities can be adapted to improve Chinese vocational college students’ oral proficiency. To help enhance Chinese vocational college students’ oral proficiency, communicative language activities that integrate these identified CLT strategies were designed as instructors’ guide in implementing CLT. Teachers are the primary change agents in educational practice, only by being more aware of what is truly going on in their classrooms can they assist students to achieve their learning goals. In the hands of a well-balanced instructor, CLT can breathe new life and enthusiasm into the classroom and truly make a difference in enhancing student’s oral proficiency.