From Linguistic Accuracy to Pragmatic Appropriateness: Teaching English in Moroccan Context

This book explores pragmatic competence as a central dimension of communicative ability in English language teaching, shifting the focus from mere linguistic accuracy to meaningful and contextually appropriate language use. It argues that successful communication in TEFL goes beyond mastering grammar and vocabulary; it requires learners to understand how language functions in real social interactions, taking into account context, intention, politeness, power relations, and cultural norms. Drawing on both theoretical foundations and classroom-based research, the book examines how pragmatic competence develops, how it can be assessed, and how it can be effectively taught in EFL contexts. It highlights the limitations of traditional form-focused instruction and advocates for pedagogical practices that integrate pragmatics into everyday teaching, such as the use of authentic materials, discourse-based activities, role-plays, and awareness-raising tasks. Special attention is given to the distinction between linguistic correctness and pragmatic appropriateness, showing how learners may produce grammatically accurate utterances that are nevertheless socially or culturally inappropriate. The book is particularly relevant to contexts where English is taught as a foreign language and opportunities for natural exposure are limited. It offers practical frameworks and classroom strategies that help teachers design instruction which fosters learners’ ability to use English in socially acceptable, polite, and effective ways. By bridging research and practice, it provides a comprehensive guide for moving TEFL pedagogy from an accuracy-oriented model toward a more communicative, interactional, and pragmatically informed approach. Overall, Pragmatic Competence: From Accuracy to Appropriateness in TEFL positions pragmatics as a core component of language education and a key to developing learners who are not only linguistically competent, but also socially and interculturally effective communicators.