Communication strategies for developing the learner's autonomy

The main aim of any student who learns a foreign language is ultimately to be able to communicate with people speaking that language. The paper presents some of the difficulties the learners encounter in a foreign language. The teacher has to use different types of communication strategies and encourage the sense of responsibility on the part of the learners who understand the strategies they employ in acquiring the language skills. The learners need adequate opportunities to put the new language into practice in a free context, and to take more risks in dealing with it. They should become active, confident, proficient and autonomous communicators (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.