Page 3 - LESSON ELEMENT 1

1. INTRODUCTION

Current education has the challenge of contributing toward the development of
students’ skills to live together in their local communities, and to take a more proactive

role as world citizens.

That is why the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education recognize three key issues:

• The importance of the English language as a tool.

• The need to align the English curriculum to standards like the Common
European Framework of Reference

• That the Communicative Approach is currently the most recognized, accepted norm in
the field of language teaching and learning worldwide

Moreover, the main objective of the present English curriculum design is to help

students develop their communicative language skills through the consideration of the
following principles:

• Language is a system for the expression and conveyance of meaning.

• The primary function of language is interaction and communication.

• The structure of language reflects its functional and communicative uses.

The English curriculum guidelines is shaped by the CEFR and its underlying
philosophy is the Communicative Language Teaching approach whose syllabus is

organized in terms of the different language “functions” the learners need to express or
understand to communicate effectively.

1.1. Approach characteristic

Two main features to point out:

 Focus on real-world contexts: Necessity of the use of language productively and

receptively outside the classroom, classroom tasks/activities must equip students
with the necessary skills for communication in everyday contexts

 Relationship of language forms (grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation) and

function (use).
1.2. What is CEFR?

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