DISCUSSION AND DEBATE AS INTERACTIVE METHODS FOR DEVELOPING ORAL COMMUNICATION

This paper explores the role of discussion and debate as highly effective interactive methods for developing oral communication and communicative competence in foreign language classrooms. While traditional approaches often fail to provide meaningful speaking opportunities, discussion and debate engage learners in real-world communication by fostering fluency, logical argumentation, and strategic competence. The study distinguishes between the open, exploratory nature of discussions and the structured, argument-driven format of debates, highlighting how both methods increase student talking time and shift the teacher's role to that of a facilitator. Furthermore, the paper provides practical pedagogical recommendations for successful implementation, focusing on topic selection based on proficiency levels, language support tools, and balanced feedback structures. Ultimately, the integration of these interactive methods serves as a vital bridge between classroom-based language acquisition and real-life professional or academic communication.