EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL COMPETENCIES ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Abstract

The importance of the English language in today’s interconnected world cannot be overstated. As the dominant language in international business, education, and technology, English proficiency open doors to global communication and collaboration. Social competence - the ability to interact effectively, manage emotions, and navigate social situations is vital for secondary school students, influencing academic success, peer relationships, and emotional well-being. During adolescence, key social skills like empathy, active listening, teamwork, and conflict resolution help students build positive relationships and leadership qualities. The present study investigates the effect of social competencies on English language acquisition among 9th-grade students in two schools in Bapatla District using a quasi-experimental pre-test post-test  design. Eighty students were divided into an experimental group (n=40), which received social competency based intervention for 40 sessions social competency-based intervention incorporating collaborative learning, and a control group (n=40), which followed traditional English instruction. These findings underscore the value of integrating social competencies - such as active listening, collaboration,—into language instruction, highlighting the effectiveness of interactive, student-centered  approaches in enhancing both English fluency and interpersonal skills.