Impact for New Yorkers 1

The ultimate goal of language learning should be the acquisition of communicative competence, which involves not only grammatical knowledge but also the ability to use language appropriately in different social contexts. This means that learners need to develop not only linguistic skills but also pragmatic skills, such as the ability to understand and use language in a way that is socially appropriate and effective.

One of the key aspects of communicative competence is the ability to engage in natural conversation. This involves not only understanding and responding to what is being said, but also the ability to initiate and sustain a conversation, to ask and answer questions, and to use appropriate conversational strategies such as turn-taking, topic management, and the use of conversational devices like fillers and backchannels.

Another important aspect of communicative competence is the ability to use language appropriately in different social contexts. This means being able to adjust one's language and communication style to the situation and the audience, and to understand and respond to social cues and expectations.

For example, the language used in a formal business meeting would be quite different from the language used in a casual conversation with friends. Learners need to be able to recognize these differences and adjust their language accordingly.

In addition to these social and pragmatic aspects of language use, communicative competence also involves the ability to understand and produce a wide range of language functions, such as requesting, apologizing, expressing opinions, and negotiating meaning.

Learners need to be able to use language not just to convey information, but to achieve a wide range of communicative goals in a variety of contexts.

Overall, the development of communicative competence is a complex and multifaceted process that involves the integration of linguistic, pragmatic, and social skills. It requires learners to not only master the grammar and vocabulary of a language, but also to develop the ability to use that language effectively and appropriately in real-world communication.

By focusing on the development of communicative competence, language learning can become a more meaningful and practical endeavor, with direct relevance to the learner's real-life needs and experiences.

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