3. The aspect or the features that indicate its functional and
communicative uses are the structures of the language itself. 4.
The grammatical and structural features are not the only units of language but categories of functional and communicative meaning.
Richard and Rodgers, 2001: 160-161 The four basic assumptions of language that show what aspects of the
language should be taught, how language should be presented in classrooms and how language competence should be evaluated. Setiyadi 2006: 147 explains the
four assumptions that Richards and Rodgers suggested came from a single theory that emphasizes the use of language in daily life that is communication.
1. Learner’s Role
The learners’ role in communicative approach as described by Breen and Candlin 1980: 110 quoted by Richard and Rodger 2001: 166 is in the
following: The role of learner as negotiator-between the self, the learning process,
and the object of learning –emerges from and interacts with the role of joint negotiator within the group and within the classroom procedures and
activities, which the group undertakes. The implication for the learner is that he should contribute as much as he gains, and thereby learn in the
interdependent way.
Richard and Rodger, 2001: 166 From what Breen and Candlin say, it can be seen that the communicative
approach recommends the use of cooperative interaction between the learner in the teaching and learning activities. The learners learn to see that if there is a
communication, which is not done smoothly, it is a responsibility and not the fault of the speaker or the listener.
2. Teachers’ Role
The role of the teacher in Communicative Approach is to create the natural environment in the classroom. This approach also requires the teacher to be
more creative in varying the activities of the teaching learning process, so that it can be more natural as in a real situation.
A teacher knows that individuals learn in different ways and at different rates. Older learners usually learn best by applying generalization to a situation
and from hearing much comprehensible input. Richard and Rodgers 2001: 167 explain the teacher’s role in
communicative approach as follows: The teacher has two main roles: the first role is to facilitate the
communication process between all participants in the classroom, and between these participants and the various activities and the texts. The
second role is to act as an independent participant within the learning- teaching group.
From the discussion on the teacher’s role above, it obvious that teacher should be creative in teaching activities. It will send the learners to the successful
learning.
3. Communicative Competence
