THE EVOLUTION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING IN UZBEKISTAN: FROM GRAMMAR-TRANSLATION TO COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE

Abstract

In recent decades, the teaching and learning of English in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan, has undergone a remarkable transformation. During the Soviet era and shortly thereafter, English instruction was predominantly based on the grammar-translation method, with minimal emphasis on communicative skills. This approach was driven by a lack of resources, such as multimedia tools and internet access, and led to limited proficiency among students. As a result, graduates of English language faculties often struggled with real-world language use. However, beginning in the 2010s, the region has seen a significant shift toward communicative and interactive language learning, reflecting the increasing importance of English in global communication, higher education, and the labor market.