Abstract:
Writing proficiency is a crucial component of human growth. The use of communicative language
teaching (CLT) approach to improve writing skills is examined in this research. This paper is based on
research done on application of CLT approach to the teaching of writing skills in English in selected
secondary schools in Marakwet East and West sub-counties of Elgeyo-Marakwet county, Kenya. The
study's primary objectives were to identify the difficulties teachers face when teaching writing skills using
CLT and the difficulties students face while learning writing during CLT-based classroom activities. The
Input Hypothesis from Krashen's Monitor Model of Second Language Acquisition guided this study
which emphasises on the use of language for learning that is accomplished through communicative
activities. Thirty-three secondary schools were the target population for the descriptive survey used in the
study. A sample of one hundred and twenty-one form three students from eleven schools were selected
using simple random sampling. Eleven teachers and form three students were purposefully selected from
the chosen schools. Data obtained through questionnaires were analysed using SPSS and those through
interviews and class observation schedules were coded and analysed descriptively. Frequency tables were
used to present the data, which was then thematically explored. A number of challenges were found
including insufficient teaching-learning resources, over-whelming class sizes and a lack of time devoted
to teaching writing. The results lead to the conclusion that despite the benefits of CLT, there are many
challenges that limit its application and should be mitigated. The study recommends that the government
should provide and/or subsidize adequate teaching-learning resources, teachers should innovate locally
affordable resources, enough time should be allocated for writing and teachers should adopt learner-
centric techniques to improve their' experiences with writing content. This paper contributes to knowledge
on the challenges CLT applications in developing writing face.
