Enhancing students’ speaking competence through communicative language teaching method

Author: 
Lourdes A. Batuto, MA. and Maria Morena E. de la Pena

This study primarily aimed to enhance the students’ speaking competence in Naval Night High School through communicative language teaching (CLT) method. This study utilized the descriptive-correlational research design, with the aid of observation checklist and rubric to measure the speaking competence of the Junior High School students, school year 2018-2019. The Junior High School English teachers in Naval Night High School have knowledge, attitudes, and practices about CLT, such as: focuses on meaning rather than grammar, suffers from low proficiency in the spoken target language, gathers students in group or/and pair-work, uses language activities for carrying out the meaningful tasks to promote learning, and raises questions related to students’ personal experiences. The speaking competence of the JHS students from all levels was enhanced through role playing, dramatic presentation, and panel discussion. Some of the problems encountered by the teachers in the implementation of CLT related activities includes relaying of ideas, insufficient time in practicing, not being prepared resulting to not being able to present on scheduled time, unwillingness to help, and difficulties during the rehearsals. There is a significant relationship between the communicative language teaching (CLT) related activities used by the teachers and students’ competence was rejected. In conclusion, the CLT activities such as role playing, drama presentations, and panel discussion improved the speaking competence of the students. Hence, the use of CLT inspired learning material shall be used by the English teachers not only in Naval Night High School, but in other schools across Biliran Division is strongly recommended.

Paper No: 
2586