CLL
Background
The Community Language Learning
(CLL) Method, conceived by Charles A. Curran in the late 1960s, emerged as a
significant departure from the prevailing behaviorist language teaching methods
of its time. Founded on principles of humanistic psychology, this approach
recognizes the importance of individual experiences and emotions in language
learning, in direct contrast to behaviorism's mechanical drills and repetitive
exercises. The CLL Method embodies a learner-centered philosophy, where
learners express their needs and preferences, with a counselor-teacher
tailoring instruction to each student's unique requirements. Encouraging a
collaborative and supportive classroom environment, CLL prioritizes real
communication, situational language use, and the nurturing role of the
counselor-teacher, offering an alternative approach that values the emotional
and social dimensions of language acquisition.
In the Community Language Learning
(CLL) Method, the roles of learners and teachers are distinct and follow a
unique approach:
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Learner's Role:
1. Expressing Needs: Learners are
encouraged to express their language learning needs, interests, and goals. They
play an active role in shaping the direction of their learning.
2. Participation: Learners actively
participate in classroom activities, engage in conversations, and interact with
fellow learners. They take part in the creation of a supportive learning
community.
3. Collaboration: Learners
collaborate with their peers, engaging in dialogue and interaction as a primary
means of language learning. They help and support one another in the learning
process.
4. Feedback: Learners provide
feedback to the counselor-teacher, expressing their difficulties and
preferences. They also participate in self-evaluation and error correction.
5. Self-Expression: The CLL Method
values self-expression and encourages learners to communicate their thoughts
and emotions in the target language.
6. Counseling Interaction: Learners
engage in a counseling-learning relationship with the counselor-teacher,
seeking guidance and emotional support.
Teacher's Role:
1. Counselor-Teacher: The teacher
takes on the role of a counselor-teacher who provides guidance, support, and
emotional assistance to learners. They help learners express their needs and
concerns and adapt instruction accordingly.
2. Creating a Supportive
Environment: The counselor-teacher is responsible for creating a nurturing and
supportive classroom environment, fostering a sense of community among
learners.
3. Facilitator of Conversations: The
teacher facilitates meaningful conversations and language activities, ensuring
learners have opportunities to practice and improve their language skills.
4. Error Correction: The
counselor-teacher offers constructive error correction, emphasizing that errors
are a natural part of the learning process. Corrections are made in a
supportive and non-threatening manner.
5. Adaptation: Teachers adapt to the
pace, preferences, and learning styles of individual learners, tailoring
instruction to meet their unique needs and goals.
6. Emotional Support: In addition to
linguistic support, the counselor-teacher provides emotional support to help
learners overcome language-related anxieties and challenges.
Overall, the CLL Method establishes
a collaborative and emotionally supportive learning environment, with the
teacher acting as a counselor and guide, and learners taking an active role in
their language learning journey.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE METHOD
The Community Language Learning
(CLL) Method is characterized by several key features that distinguish it from
traditional language teaching approaches. It places a strong emphasis on the
emotional and social aspects of language learning, fostering a supportive and
collaborative classroom environment. Learners actively express their needs and
preferences, shaping the direction of their language acquisition. Communication
is at the core of CLL, with learners engaging in conversations and interactions
as a primary means of learning. The method introduces the concept of a
counselor-teacher who offers not only linguistic guidance but also emotional
support, nurturing a sense of community within the classroom. Error correction
is handled in a constructive and non-threatening manner, recognizing that
mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. The CLL Method values
individual self-expression, situational language use, and the development of
listening and speaking skills, making it a humanistic and learner-centered
approach to language education.
WHAT I WOULD USE OF THIS METHOD
You might consider using the
Community Language Learning (CLL) Method if you value a supportive and
collaborative learning environment, where your individual needs and interests
are acknowledged and integrated into your language learning journey. This method
is particularly suitable if you appreciate the emotional and social dimensions
of language acquisition and prefer learning through meaningful conversations
and interactions. With CLL, you can actively participate in shaping your
learning experience, express your language learning goals, and receive guidance
and emotional support from a counselor-teacher. If you find value in a holistic
approach that focuses on communication and the development of listening and
speaking skills in a community of fellow learners, then the CLL Method can be a
highly effective choice for your language education
SWOT
Strengths (S):
1. Emotional Support: CLL recognizes
the importance of emotional support in language learning, fostering a positive
and nurturing classroom environment.
2. Effective Communication: The
method prioritizes communication skills, helping learners develop strong
listening and speaking abilities.
3. Learner-Centered: CLL is highly
learner-centered, allowing students to express their needs, interests, and
goals, which can lead to more personalized and motivating language learning
experiences.
4. Group Dynamics: The method
encourages collaboration and a sense of community among learners, which can
enhance motivation and engagement.
Weaknesses (W):
1. Resource-Intensive: Implementing
the CLL Method may require substantial resources, including trained
counselor-teachers and access to appropriate materials.
2. Not Suitable for All Learners: Some
students may prefer more structured or teacher-directed approaches and could
find CLL's open and learner-driven nature challenging.
Opportunities (O):
1. Integration with Technology: CLL
can be integrated with modern technology, such as online learning platforms and
digital resources, to enhance and expand the method's reach.
2. Personalized Learning: With its
emphasis on learner needs, CLL aligns well with the trend toward personalized
and adaptive learning in language education.
Threats (T):
1. Resistance to Change: Traditional
teaching methods and curricula may resist incorporating the CLL Method,
limiting its adoption.
2. Teacher Training: Proper training
for counselor-teachers is essential for the method's success. A lack of
training can be a barrier to effective implementation.
3. Assessment Challenges:
Traditional assessment methods may not align well with CLL's focus on holistic
language learning and communication, making it challenging to evaluate student
progress.