Communicative and task-based language teaching: where are we now? The Language Learning Journal

This special issue of The Language Learning Journal commemorates the contribution of Professor William Littlewood to the fields of communicative language teaching (CLT) and task-based language teaching (TBLT). The issue emerged from the Special Colloquium held at the International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning, hosted by the Language Centre of Hong Kong Baptist University in June 2024. The colloquium, entitled ‘Engagement with CLT and TBLT: in Celebration of Bill Littlewood’s 50 Years of Explorations’, brought together leading scholars to reflect on and extend Littlewood’s legacy in applied linguistics. Littlewood’s pioneering work in CLT and TBLT has shaped the trajectory of applied linguistics and language pedagogy for over five decades. His scholarship has not only influenced theoretical frameworks but also transformed classroom practices across diverse educational contexts. Through a curated selection of empirical studies, theoretical reflections and pedagogical insights, this special issue seeks to honour Professor Littlewood’s vision of language learning as a dynamic, communicative and learner-centred process.