Integrating thought and language in foreign language instruction: a spiral framework

Abstract

This article proposes the communicative and cognitive model for foreign language (FL) instruction, arguing that modern FL classrooms must move beyond communicative competence (CC) to the integrated communicative and cognitive competence (CCC), which unifies language use with thought processes.

The major objective of this study is to elaborate the CCM – a structured pedagogical framework – that correlates communicative and cognitive constituents, providing an incremental methodology for classroom application.

The article was created through a scientific process combining conceptual analysis (reviewing and defining the goal), systems modeling (structuring the process into clear stages), and the application of cognitive-linguistic principles (designing stage-specific strategies based on the brain’s processing language and thought).

The article delivers a feasible CCM that explicitly links communicative and cognitive processing of linguistic knowledge with independent FL production. It specifies an integrated goal – a CCC as a sought-for learning outcome; a six-stage process of its development; a practical guidance for progressing through these stages providing concrete pedagogical strategies for each stage and ensuring practical feasibility of the framework for language instructors.

This study formalizes the CCM as a distinct framework. It is also seminal in synthesizing CCC as a unified learning objective presuming a gradual progression through a spirally-structured model that directly integrates cognitive processes into the communicative practice.

The article argues that effective FL instruction requires a communicative and cognitive approach to foster CCC. The proposed spiral model offers a comprehensive practical framework. By integrating explicit cognitive processing, the CCM guides students to move beyond mechanic learning to achieving deep understanding of input and creative, contextually appropriate language output.