Author(s)

Xiaoling Dong

Corresponding Author

Xiaoling Dong

Abstract

This study investigates teachers’ and students’ perceptions of communicative language teaching (CLT) in college English teaching for non-English majors. Fifteen English teachers and 189 students from East China Jiaotong University were selected for this survey. They were asked to finish a questionnaire and take part in a semi-structured interview. After the data were collected and analyzed, this survey revealed the obstacles and difficulties teachers and students met in the implementation of CLT in English classroom. After that, this study indicated some similarities and differences between teachers’ perceptions and students’ perceptions of CLT on some items in the questionnaires. At the same time, this study tries to figure out how to apply CLT efficiently to improve students’ communicative competence in China. The findings of this study show that: (1) the teachers have affirmative attitudes towards CLT and approve of communicative principles in theory; (2) the students have favorable attitudes towards CLT, but they are more accustomed to integration of communicative and non-communicative activities; (3) there are similarities and differences between teachers’ perceptions and students’ perceptions. They have achieved great consensus on some items, but they also have some big differences; (4) although teachers and students hold positive attitudes towards CLT, they also meet many constraints that hinder the successful implementation of CLT. Based on the findings of this study, the study has offered the following suggestions for English teaching and learning in Chinese colleges. It is suggested that: (1) current examination system should be modified; (2) any authentic materials available should be made available for English teachers and students; (3) teachers should be provided with more practical and effective in-service trainings on how to apply CLT in English classes; (4) class size should be reduced and more opportunities for real English practice should be created.

Keywords

Communicative Competence; Communicative Language Teaching; Chinese College English Teaching; English Teachers; English Students