The Contribution of Oral Presentations to EFL Learners’ Communicative Competence: The Case Study of Second-Year Students at Biskra University

Abstract

The development of communication skills is seen as the core of the teaching and learning process, leading to the emergence of communicative approaches to language teaching. As a result, communicative competence is now regarded as a crucial component of learning English. However, some learners struggle to communicate in a variety of situations using different verbal and nonverbal communication strategies. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of oral presentations to EFL learners' communicative competence. A case study was conducted, using two research tools: a classroom observation accompanied by an observation checklist and a questionnaire for second-year LMD students at the Department of English at Biskra University. In the context of second-year students at Biskra University, it has been predicted that EFL learners who frequently engage in oral presentations exhibit greater communicative competence when compared to those who do not. The data obtained were both qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Thus, the main results showed that students were aware of the usefulness of delivering oral presentations as a learning activity as they strived to adhere to its standards. Additionally, it was revealed that classroom oral presentations contributed to the development of learners' communicative competence. Overall, this study highlights the importance of incorporating oral presentations into EFL classrooms to enhance learners' communicative competence. Therefore, teachers should consider implementing this activity to help students improve their communication skills and become proficient communicators.