Alptekin on communicative competence in ELT

In this article, Alptekin talks about the importance of cultural elements and knowing native-like behaviors in English Language learning. He states facts about how widespread English is in the world. He also says that it is not necessarily important for learners of English to know all the native culture elements because they may only use the language with other non-native speakers. He concludes that English language pedagogy should consist of local and global situations, so to prepare the learner for both native-non-native interactions and non-native-non-native interactions.

He makes a very valid argument. Before reading this article, I hadn't realized how many non-native speakers use English to conduct business with other non-native English speakers. It makes sense that International learner should be introduced to both types of interaction. However, in this class we are discussing English as a Second Language in a completely different context. We teach English to students who are immersed in the native culture and they definitely need to learn our customs. I could also see the importance of dealing with other non-native speakers, but our main focus is to try to make their English as native-like as possible, is it not? Native speakers do not need to know the non-native-non-native interaction rules because they will never be placed in this situation (not in English anyway).