Community Language Learning: A Humanistic Approach to Language Teaching

Language learning can be a daunting task for many individuals. It requires dedication, discipline, and most importantly, the right approach. Over the years, various language teaching approaches have been developed to help students learn languages effectively. One such approach is Community Language Learning (CLL).


CLL is a humanistic approach to language teaching that was developed by Charles A. Curran, a professor of psychology and counseling at Loyola University. Curran believed that language learning techniques were comparable to the techniques used in counseling. Thus, he developed a language learning approach that was based on the principles of Rogerian counseling and group therapy.


The focus of CLL is on the emotions, feelings, and behavioral skills of the students. The approach requires students to become intimate as a group and interact with one another in a supportive way. The teacher's role is redefined to reflect the role of a counselor, while the student's role is that of a client.


Unlike traditional language teaching approaches, there is no specific syllabus used in CLL. Instead, students follow a topic-based curriculum, and the teacher introduces grammatical concepts and vocabulary as they come up. Students learn collaboratively through group discussion, free conversation, reflection, observation, some translating, and listening. Transcriptions and recordings are also used.


The teacher must be aware of the developmental stages of learning that occur in CLL. These stages are recognized in the acronym SARD, which stands for security, attention and aggression, retention and reflection, and discrimination. The approach recognizes the range of emotions through which a student progresses while learning a language, including a stage of aggression towards the teacher.


In CLL, the teacher's goal is to create a supportive and non-threatening environment in which students feel comfortable and safe to learn. The approach emphasizes the importance of building relationships and developing trust between students and the teacher, as well as among the students themselves.


In conclusion, Community Language Learning is a humanistic approach to language teaching that focuses on the emotional and behavioral skills of the students. The approach recognizes that language learning can be an emotional process and seeks to create a supportive and non-threatening environment in which students feel comfortable and safe to learn. While CLL may not be suitable for all learners or contexts, it is a valuable approach that has been used successfully in many language teaching situations.

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