Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in Teaching English to Universities in Indonesia: A Phenomenology Study

Abstract

Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) or teaching English using communicative approaches is a topic that is still a long debate especially in the success of teaching English. The emergence of CLT is based on the idea that language learning cannot be separated from its function as a means of communication. No exception to the application of CLT in Learning English in Higher Education is still a debate between the ability of students to understand scientific texts in English or able to communicate well. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to get an overview of the application of CLT in the context of higher education in Indonesia, the challenges faced by lecturers in implementing CLT and the activities and materials used in implementing CLT to support student learning success. The qualitative research method with the phenomenology approach is used to critically analyze the results of self-reflection of the caretaker lecturers in the English course. Data were obtained through in-depth interviewing techniques related to the use of CLT in teaching English to develop receptive abilities (listening and reading) and productive abilities (writing and speaking) of students. Respondents were English language lecturers who applied CLT in their teaching. Respondents were randomly selected and willing to provide their reflections on CLT in the teaching and learning process. The implications of this research are expected to contribute in the field of teaching English methodology, especially teaching English at the college level. The teaching strategy can be an alternative input for other English lecturers.