CLT and TBLT: looking back and looking forward with Professor David Nunan

The term ‘Communicative Language Teaching’ (CLT) emerged in the early 1970s and has evolved through three stages: initial enthusiasm, subsequent questioning, and integration with postmethod pedagogy, emphasising flexible implementation while retaining core principles. CLT has profoundly influenced global English teaching for nearly 50 years. Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT), which emerged in the 1980s, builds on CLT by focusing on communicative tasks to enhance learner engagement and motivation. However, TBLT faces challenges such as task interpretation and balancing teaching paradigms. In this conversation, Professor David Nunan, renowned for his extensive publications and the best-selling Go For It! textbook series, reflects on the history, development, and future of CLT and TBLT. Drawing on his experiences with Professor William Littlewood and other colleagues, Nunan provides a comprehensive analysis of these approaches, highlighting their impact and potential for future innovation.