| Abstract: | Cain, M. “Texts and the foreign language teacher: some reflections on aims,” Revue ATEE Journal 1980 (3) 135‐145. This article, originally presented as a paper at a conference in Denmark on the notion of ‘text’ in language teaching, explores the aims of language teaching. The author relates what he considers to be progressive elements in language teaching pedagogy to the basically conservative tradition which exists in practice. Through an examination of the notion of ‘truth’ in connection with work with texts, he outlines three different traditions within educational theory: the positivist, the humanist and the emancipatory. Taking the last tradition as a factor of renewal, the author outlines a didactic model which would live up to the aims of modern language teaching as he sees them. In conclusion, a number of practical points are made relating to the application of such a model. |
