Communicative Grammar Instruction Practices in Grade 10English Classrooms: The Case of Bule Hora University Community and Bariso Dukale Secondary Schools

Abstract

This study examined the use of Communicative Grammar Instruction (CGI) in the Grade 10 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom at Bule Hora University Community and Bariso Dukale Secondary Schools to investigate teachers’ theoretical understanding of CGI, their classroom implementation, and the difficulties they faced in implementing CGI. The researchers employed a descriptive research design to observe current classroom activities without manipulating variables, while gathering quantitative and qualitative data through student questionnaires, classroom observations, and teacher interviews. The research discovered that teachers understand CGI at a basic level, which they consider essential for building students’ communication skills, while using conventional teaching methods. Classroom assessments, together with student feedback, demonstrated that students engaged in few communication activities because teachers focused more on explaining rules and achieving precise sentence construction than on developing actual language skills. The application of CGI faces challenges because large classrooms restrict teaching periods and have insufficient educational resources. Students lacked the chance to use their grammatical skills during real-life communication situations. The study demonstrates that teachers value CGI at the conceptual level. However, they face practical and contextual barriers that hinder the successful implementation of CGI in classrooms. This suggests that educators should move away from rote memorization and adopt inductive and communication-centered strategies, where grammar is viewed as a functional instrument for meaningful exchanges and real-world use. This pedagogical pivot requires students to step into an active role via task-based activities, not just sit and receive input. It shifts them from passive reception to practical discovery. To maintain these changes, institutions must also address logistical problems such as overcrowding and resource shortages to ensure consistent CGI implementation.