Discusses five directions for integrating the notion of communicative competence in foreign-language instruction: functional orientation, focus on semantic notions, cyclical progression, inclusion of rhetorical device and discursive authenticity, and systematic treatment of language variation. (EKN)

Presents use of dialogs as way of implementing functional/notional approach in second language instruction. Steps in methodology include presentation and discussion, oral practice, questions and answers, examination of structure, transfer to oral or written activity, and summary of lesson's purpose. (BK)

Discusses using structure drills in the foreign language classroom including use of same grammatical structure with slight variation, notional/functional drills, and situational dialogs. Suggests necessity of looking more closely at techniques in order to better understand teaching operation. (Author/BK)

Discusses a compromise between functionally based material and traditional grammatical approaches by suggesting the adoption of a more communicative approach to structurally based material. Using the present continuous tense as an example, the unnaturalness of traditional classroom dialog is shown; sample remedies are given. (PJM)

Discusses the use of the term "communicative" in describing approaches to foreign- or second-language teaching. Suggests that a distinction should be drawn between informal communicative approaches which promote second-language acquisition and formal communicative approaches which promote conscious learning. Examines conditions for achieving both…

Compares three major types of syllabi--structural, situational, and notional--to determine how the last differs from the others. For each, the author examines its focus, its basis for selecting and ordering materials, and its typical manner of presentation. Discusses in considerable detail macro- and microstrategies consistent with the notional…

Explains how the orientation process, using a functional/notional approach to language teaching, provides for specification and ordering of activities in the classroom. Models can be worked out for particular activities and resources can be collected so that the models can be adopted as needed to include a variety of content. (Author/PJM)

Discusses positive and negative aspects of teaching language use--the Communicative Approach. While the Communicative Approach is learner-centered and develops the students' communicative competence, the design and current tactics of this methodology are criticized as being "decontextualized" and "abstracted." (SL)

A notional syllabus places the greatest emphasis on the use of the language, unlike most foreign language syllabuses, which emphasize its structural form. Each entry defines a type of purposeful communication. When the student has mastered the syllabus, he has thus acquired a communicative competence. (CFM)

Sports and athletics belong to all cultures; at the same time aspects of them are typical of U.S. culture. As a theme they can be used as a springboard for a "transcultural dialogue" in the language acquisition process. A review of literature shows that very little has been written about developing language skills and cultural understanding…

Addresses the question of understanding a foreign culture and its link with vocabulary acquisition in the second-language classroom. Problems in current research and classroom practice are examined. A synthetic approach to culture and vocabulary through modification of a notional/functional syllabus is proposed as a solution to the problems. (SED)

Describes preception-oriented foreign language teaching strategies by listing the characteristic features of the perception of social processes and the methods for putting the principles of perception orientation into practice through such techniques as dialogues, roleplays, and simulation. Includes extensive bibliographic references. (PMJ)

Describes the functional/notional approach to language instruction, discussing key features, misconceptions, and practical applications of the model. (AM)

This article discusses the value of the notional-functional approach to language teaching and considers some sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, and linguistic features of the notional-functional syllabus. (CFM)

Presents a practical, flexible framework for teaching communicative competence. Examples of objectives, materials, activities, and testing procedures are from the first-year German courses at the University of Arizona but are largely applicable to foreign language instruction in general. (EKN)