Developing EFL Learners' Speaking Skills Through Communicative Language Teaching. The Case of Intermediate-level Adult Learners at CEIL (Intensive Language Training Center) of Ghardaia University

Abstract

The ability to speak spontaneously using the target language is one of the main objectives adult language learners seek to obtain when enrolling in a language training program. However, speaking is widely recognized as the most challenging skill among the four language skills to acquire, especially when implementing traditional language teaching methods endorsed by many language training programs that prioritize vocabulary and grammar instruction. In light of this context, this research sets out to examine the effectiveness of employing the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach to develop language speaking skills among intermediate-level adult English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners at the Intensive Language Training Center (CEIL) of Ghardaia University. To test this hypothesis, a quantitative investigation was conducted adopting a one-group quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design. The experiment group consisted of 15 adult learners from diverse academic and professional backgrounds at the B1 English level. The participants were assessed on their language proficiency using the speaking section of the Preliminary English Test (PET) both before and after the four-week intervention based on CLT principles. After a comprehensive analysis and interpretation of the pre-test and post-test results, the findings indicate that the implementation of CLT is an effective method for developing language speaking skills among adult intermediate-level EFL learners, thus suggesting potential positive implications for the integration of CLT in EFL classrooms.