ROLE OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN ENGLISH
Keywords:
xAbstract
Experiential learning, rooted in the philosophy of “learning by doing,” has become a cornerstone of modern language pedagogy. This paper investigates the role of experiential learning in developing communicative competence in English, focusing on fluency, accuracy, pragmatic awareness, and intercultural sensitivity. Drawing on Kolb’s experiential learning cycle and communicative competence frameworks, the study integrates theoretical insights with empirical evidence from a 12-week intervention involving undergraduate learners. Results indicate that experiential learning significantly enhances learners’ ability to communicate effectively in authentic contexts, increases motivation, and reduces speaking anxiety. The paper concludes with pedagogical recommendations for integrating experiential learning into English language curricula.
References
Bachman, L. F. (1990). Fundamental Considerations in Language Testing. Oxford University Press.
Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1(1), 1–47.
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and Education. Macmillan.
Hymes, D. (1972). On communicative competence. In J. B. Pride & J. Holmes (Eds.), Sociolinguistics (pp. 269–293). Penguin.
Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Prentice Hall.
Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2014). Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Wibowo, A. H., Mohamad, B., Djatmika, & Santosa, R. (2024). Designing and assessing experiential learning pedagogy for an intercultural communicative competence training module: A quasi-experimental study. Frontiers in Education, 9, Article 1470209. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1470209
Zapata, A., Almeida, E., & Guagchinga, N. (2025). Enhancing communicative competence in young EFL learners through the implementation of a methodological guide based on the CLT approach. In Emerging Research in Intelligent Systems (pp. 416–426). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-87701-8_30
Wang, Y., Li, J., & Chen, H. (2025). Effective measures to develop undergraduates’ communicative competence in English as a foreign language: A systematic review. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 24(5), 1–20. https://www.ijlter.org/index.php/ijlter/article/view/12492
Li, J., Wang, Y., & Xu, L. (2025). Issues in developing EFL learners’ oral communicative competence: A systematic review. International Journal of English Language Teaching, 13(2), 45–63.
Littlewood, W. (2011). Communicative language teaching: An introduction. Cambridge Language Teaching Library. Cambridge University Press.
Ellis, R. (2003). Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching. Oxford University Press.
Larsen-Freeman, D. (2000). Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. Oxford University Press.
Savignon, S. J. (2002). Communicative Language Teaching: Linguistic Theory and Classroom Practice. Yale University Press.