Abstract
M.Ed. (Education Linguistics)
This study is an investigation of the applicability of the
communicative approach to the teaching of African languages.
The point of departure for this study is that the
communicative approach can be implemented in order to improve
students' communicative competence. Communicative competence
entails grammatical, discourse, sociolinguistic, illocutionary
and strategic competence.
In order to determine the communicative competence, and the
needs of students their essays and letters have been analysed.
The study found that students' communicative competence is not
so good especially in the area of discourse competence. This
problem can be solved by implementing the process approach.
The process approach is the most recent communicative approach
which is used for teaching writing. This study shows
different activities which can be practiced in order to
improve communicative competence during the writing process.