Impact of Communicative Language Teaching Approach on Promoting Speaking Skill at Tertiary Level

Abstract

This research undertakes to investigate the reasons behind students' lack of interaction in large university classes and consider the impact of the seating, inhibitions, teaching materials and the teacher training on students' ability to interact orally in these classes. Teachers' awareness of the impact of CLT on enhancing the speaking skill, as well as the extent to which the English language syllabus cater for the speaking skill are also investigated. The main objective is to see the impact of the following domains of teachers, students, methodology, classroom and the syllabus on promoting the speaking skill at the tertiary level. The sample of the study consists of the second year students (above one hundred) studying English in Omdurman Islamic University and thirty English language teachers in seven Sudanese universities. Two instruments were used for data collection: teachers' questionnaire and classroom observation. The data was computed and analyzed with the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences. The study showed that: 1- Large university classrooms are not conducive to teaching English communicatively. 2- Teachers' classrooms.

knowledge of CLT is not reflected in large EFL 3- The present English language syllabus at the tertiary level does not give speaking enough space. 4- Teachers often use the mother tongue for classroom management. 5- Most time is often taken up with teacher talk. 6- Participation is often dominated by a minority of talkative participants. The study recommends that teachers should reduce students' inhibitions through using group work and respecting their contributions and that teachers' knowledge of CLT should be reflected in their actual teaching practice. The number of students in a classroom should not exceed (40) , and the seats and desks should not be fixed to the floor, so that successful learning and effective teaching can occur. The study also recommends that communicative courses should be part of the syllabus.