A comprehensive review of communicative approach to grammar aspects in Malay textbooks for secondary one to secondary three express in Singapore

The linguistic landscape for Malay students in Singapore has significantly shifted, with English increasingly adopted as their primary language, relegating Malay (Bahasa Melayu) to a second language. This trend presents substantial challenges in the formal acquisition of Bahasa Melayu, as students often lack exposure and opportunities to practice the language within their home environments. Consequently, there is a crucial need to explore contemporary trends in second language pedagogy, particularly focusing on the communicative approach. This systematic literature review (SLR) examines literature related to the communicative approach and its impact on the competency of Singaporean Malay language learners. The review specifically examines the integration of grammatical components, identifies prevalent issues, and explores various aspects of the communicative approach within this context. This SLR draws upon publications between 2017 to 2023 across three prominent databases: Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar. Employing the rigorous Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, this study initially identified 496 relevant articles. Following a thorough application of pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a final selection of 10 publications was extracted for in-depth analysis. The findings of this review consistently indicate that the communicative approach is an effective pedagogical strategy for second language instruction. its efficacy is demonstrated through the successful integration of authentic materials, the provision of timely and constructive feedback, and the holistic development of essential language skills. This SLR aims to provide valuable insights for Malay language teachers, encouraging them to consider and adopt the communicative approach to increase their students’ language proficiency. Future research is recommended to build upon these findings by investigating the perceptions of the teachers regarding the practical implementation of communicative approaches within Malay language teaching strategies.