Research in Testing Communication Skills in Foreign Language (English) Literature Review

In this paper we will concentrate on three main aspects. First we will investigate on the theory of communication and its connection with other disciplines, in order to point out to what degree they have influenced the theory of communication. We will also concentrate in the way the theory of communication relates to the language and the ways the latter expresses meaning. Secondly, we will examine various theoretical contributions concerning communicative competence. Here will be included not only the views of several scholars and linguists such as, Hymes, Chomsky, Canale and Swain, Bachman etc, but also their models of communicative competence with their advantages and disadvantages. Through this analysis we will be able to understand the way in which the concept of Communicative Competence has evolved from 1970 to these days and its implications in both teaching and learning processes of foreign language. Thirdly, the focus will be on the role of Common European Framework of Reference in assessment and testing of communication skills. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2012.v2n4p25