Investigation On The Applicability Of Communicative Approach In Teaching English Language In Primary Schools In Tanzania

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to investigate the applicability of the communicative approach (CA) in teaching English language in primary schools in Tanzania. Particularly, the study investigated the attitudes of the primary school English language teachers toward the CA, the adherence to the CA’s principles by the English language teachers and the involvement of the pupils in performing various communicative activities. The research was done in two districts of Kagera Region namely Bukoba Rural and Missenyi Districts. The study employed the qualitative approach whereby two instruments of data collection were used i.e. interview and observation. A total of sixty-eight (68) respondents were involved in this study. These included thirty-two (32) English language teachers and thirty-six (36) pupils. All of them were selected purposefully and interviewed. Also, the observation was conducted in the classroom during the English lessons. The findings of this study were analysed thematically and revealed that many English language teachers in primary schools had positive attitude towards the CA. It was discovered that there were very few teachers who had neutral attitude. Although English language teachers were found out to have a positive attitude, the study discovered that those teachers were not fully adhering to the CA’s principles when teaching English language. Furthermore, the findings revealed that many pupils were not actively or fully participating in performing communicative activities that they were assigned by their English language teachers in the classroom during the lessons. Basing on what was found out by this study, it is here recommended that English language teachers in primary schools be redirected to adhere to the principles of CA. Also, the government should provide regular training to the English language teachers.