Conference Keynote
Post-communicative methods:
Social pedagogies and the role of technology
Nelleke Van Deusen-Scholl, Director, Center for Language Study
Yale University
Language pedagogy currently finds itself in the “post-methods era” (cf. Magnan, 2008; Richards & Rogers, 2014) which is marked by a critical re-examination of communicative language teaching (CLT). Among the main criticisms of CLT are its primary focus on transactional and largely oral language production and its lack of emphasis on culture (Kramsch, 2006). The widely-cited 2007 MLA Report pointed to the growing divide between language and content and called for new approaches to language education that would better integrate disciplinary perspectives and enhance the intellectual focus of language instruction through a greater emphasis on texts and with an increased focus on authentic content. At the same time, globalization has changed the broader context for language learning significantly over the past two decades and has contributed to a more plurilingual and pluricultural classroom environment (Kramsch, 2014). This has led to new methodologies and social pedagogies that engage the learners in more collaborative activities that go beyond the language classroom and promote meaningful interactions in their local communities (Charitos & Van Deusen-Scholl, 2017; Van Deusen-Scholl & Charitos, 2021). In this presentation, I will explore what we mean by post-communicative methodologies and provide some examples of current projects at Yale and Columbia that have incorporated project-, community-, and place-based learning activities. I will particularly also look at the role that technology can play in connecting learners with each other and with their surrounding communities.
Should you have questions, please contact NEALLT President, Luba Iskold (Muhlenberg College), or our Conference host Mary Toulouse (Lafayette College).
Cordially,
Luba Iskold, NEALLT President
