A Study on the Effectiveness of Communicative Language Teaching in Enhancing Speaking Competence among Secondary School Students

Abstract

The present research paper explores the effectiveness of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in enhancing speaking competence among secondary school students. In many educational settings, especially in India, English language teaching still relies heavily on traditional methods such as the Grammar-Translation Method, which limits students’ ability to communicate effectively in real-life situations. This study adopts a behavioral and learner-centered perspective to examine how CLT promotes active participation, confidence, and meaningful communication. The research uses a comparative approach, observing students exposed to both traditional and communicative teaching methods. The findings reveal that CLT significantly improves students’ fluency, pronunciation, interaction skills, and overall confidence. The study concludes that integrating CLT in secondary education can lead to holistic language development.