COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING IN EFL CLASSROOMS: PRINCIPLES, CLASSROOM TECHNIQUES, AND CHALLENGES

This paper examines Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) as one of the most influential approaches in contemporary English as a Foreign Language (EFL) methodology. The study aims to outline the theoretical foundations of CLT, describe its core classroom techniques, and analyse the main challenges teachers face when applying it in non-English-speaking contexts. A qualitative review of the existing scholarly literature was used as the research method. The analysis shows that CLT improves learners’ fluency, motivation, and communicative competence when it is supported by meaningful tasks, balanced attention to form, and flexible teacher roles. At the same time, large classes, exam-oriented curricula, limited exposure to authentic English, and insufficient teacher training reduce its effectiveness. The paper concludes that a context-sensitive, blended version of CLT, combining communicative tasks with focused grammar instruction and digital resources, is the most productive solution for EFL classrooms.