The natural approach and its influence on basic communicative skills

Abstract

The objective of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the natural approach on the development of the basic communicative skills in the English Language teaching-learning process, in beginner students at the Language Center, Universidad Técnica de Machala, Ecuador (UTMACH). Therefore, a quasi-experimental design has been implemented using a pre and post-test design, and a control group; the sample comprised 54 students divided into two groups: the intervention (29) and the control group (25). A complete cycle was developed in the beginner students of the Language Center using the standardized UTMACH syllabus in the control group and the natural approach in the experimental group. The natural approach minimized the use of grammar and enhances teacher interaction with students as well as the interaction among students. The initial and final phases of the process were evaluated through the use of standardized tests according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The control group showed increase in writing and speaking, as well as in the total performance; the experimental group showed a significant increase in listening and reading comprehension, writing and speaking, also in grammar and vocabulary (even though it was not part of the main study) as well as total performance (Students T for repeated samples). Finally, it was demonstrated that the effectiveness of the natural approach recreated in the English teaching-learning language improved the development speaking and grammar and vocabulary (even though it was not part of the main study), of first level students of the Language Center significantly, a result that is confirmed by multivariate analysis of variant (MANOVA). Based on the results, it is concluded that it is possible to delineate concrete experimental studies that allow the acquisition of English in a certain number of classes so that it can be ensured that the modifications correspond to a randomly selected intervention program.