FOSTERING EFL STUDENTS’ COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE THROUGH CASE-BASED TECHNOLOGY: A PEDAGOGICAL FRAMEWORK
Keywords:
Communicative competence, Case-based learning, EFL pedagogy, Student-centered approach, Higher education, Critical thinkingAbstract
In the contemporary English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom, the primary objective has shifted from mere grammatical accuracy to the development of holistic communicative competence. However, traditional teacher-centered methodologies often fail to provide the authentic context required for students to internalize these skills. This paper explores the efficacy of Case-Based Learning (Case Technology) as a student-centered pedagogical intervention to foster communicative competence in higher education EFL contexts. By analyzing the theoretical underpinnings of the case method and its practical application, this paper proposes a structured three-stage framework (Pre-case, While-case, and Post-case). The discussion highlights how this technology specifically targets the linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic components of communicative competence. The paper concludes that integrating case technology not only bridges the gap between theoretical language knowledge and practical application but also significantly enhances critical thinking and learner autonomy, preparing EFL students for global professional environments.
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