Investigating the Role of English-Speaking Clubs in Developing EFL Learners’ Communicative Competence. The Case of Some Selected Private Schools in Tizi-ouzou.
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Date
2023
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Mouloud Mammeri University
Abstract
This dissertation aims to investigate the role of English-Speaking Clubs in developing EFL
learners’ communicative competence. The objectives of the study are threefold. First, it seeks
to investigate the activities teachers implement in English-Speaking Clubs to develop EFL
learners’ communicative competence. Second, it attempts to examine the scaffolding
strategies teachers use in English-Speaking Clubs to enhance their learners’ communicative
competence. Third, it strives to explore EFL learners’ perceptions about the extent to which
participation in English-Speaking Clubs improves their communicative competence. This
research is guided by the theoretical framework of ‘Social Constructivism Theory’ proposed
by Lev Vygotsky (1978), putting emphasis on two core concepts: ‘Scaffolding and Active
Learning’. A mixed-methods approach is adopted in this study as the main methodology for
both data collection and data analysis. To collect the data, a questionnaire was administered to
twenty-five (25) students and eight (8) classroom observations were carried out in two
English-Speaking Clubs in two private schools in Tizi-ouzou. The findings indicate that
teachers in English-Speaking Clubs implement active learning activities including ‘debates,
role plays, discussions and presentations’ to develop their learners’ communicative
competence. In addition, the results show that teachers use scaffolding strategies including
modeling, offering explanations, inviting students’ participation, providing feedback and
inviting students to contribute clues during the club sessions to enhance their learners’
communicative competence. Despite, some scaffolding strategies are used partially.
Furthermore, the study displays that EFL learners perceive greater improvements in their
communicative competence since joining the English-Speaking Clubs. Finally, it can be
concluded that joining English-Speaking Clubs contribute to the development of EFL
learners’ communicative competence.
Description
78p. ; 30cm(+CD-Rom)
Keywords
active learning, communicative competence, English-Speaking Clubs, private school, scaffolding, social constructivism theory
Citation
Didactics of Foreign Languages