The CFER in English and Communication Competence: A Decolonial Perspective

Fabian Wanbok Marbaniang

doi:10.51474/elepraxis.v2i2.668

Original Article

Journal of ELE Praxis, Volume 2, Issue 2, 2025, 10-16, https://doi.org/10.51474/elepraxis.v2i2.668

Publication date: Nov 30, 2025

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In-text citation: (Marbaniang, 2025)
Reference: Marbaniang, F. W. (2025). The CFER in English and Communication Competence: A Decolonial Perspective. Journal of ELE Praxis, 2(2), 10-16. https://doi.org/10.51474/elepraxis.v2i2.668

Vancouver

In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Marbaniang FW. The CFER in English and Communication Competence: A Decolonial Perspective. Journal of ELE Praxis. 2025;2(2):10-6. https://doi.org/10.51474/elepraxis.v2i2.668

AMA

In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Marbaniang FW. The CFER in English and Communication Competence: A Decolonial Perspective. Journal of ELE Praxis. 2025;2(2), 10-16. https://doi.org/10.51474/elepraxis.v2i2.668

Chicago

In-text citation: (Marbaniang, 2025)
Reference: Marbaniang, Fabian Wanbok. "The CFER in English and Communication Competence: A Decolonial Perspective". Journal of ELE Praxis 2025 2 no. 2 (2025): 10-16. https://doi.org/10.51474/elepraxis.v2i2.668

Harvard

In-text citation: (Marbaniang, 2025)
Reference: Marbaniang, F. W. (2025). The CFER in English and Communication Competence: A Decolonial Perspective. Journal of ELE Praxis, 2(2), pp. 10-16. https://doi.org/10.51474/elepraxis.v2i2.668

MLA

In-text citation: (Marbaniang, 2025)
Reference: Marbaniang, Fabian Wanbok "The CFER in English and Communication Competence: A Decolonial Perspective". Journal of ELE Praxis, vol. 2, no. 2, 2025, pp. 10-16. https://doi.org/10.51474/elepraxis.v2i2.668

ABSTRACT

The process of migrating from a non-English-speaking and developing country outside Europe to an English-speaking developed country is a prerequisite to having communicative competence in English to work and reside in an English-speaking country, particularly the United Kingdom (UK). The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) assesses and describes the communicative competence level of a foreign language speaker in a European language. The development of English language competence as a foreign or second language learner is gradually phased out in favour of English or other European languages. Preliminary findings suggest a growing demand for communicative competence in English in higher education, a need that has paved the way for the CEFR to be adopted in non-English speaking countries outside Europe. The communicative approach aligned with the CEFR descriptors dominates English Language Education. This paper argues that communicative competence has dominated linguistic competence, and UK-based organisations and publishing houses have contributed to this dominance, utilising the CEFR descriptors as a tool.

KEYWORDS

CEFR communicative competence language competence decolonisation

REFERENCES

Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). (2020). Annual status of education report (rural) 2020. ASER Centre.
Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of syntax. MIT Press.
Hymes, D. (1972). On communicative competence. In J. B. Pride, & J. Holmes (Eds.), Sociolinguistics: Selected readings (pp. 269-293). Penguin Books.
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Kassim, N., & Hashim, H. (2023, December). Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): A review on its implementation in ESL/EFL classrooms. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(12), 25662591. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i12/20149
Marbaniang, F. W (2016). Content and language integration: An approach to English language education among the Khasis of Meghalaya [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad.
National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). (2012). National achievement survey: Class V – Language report.
North, B. (2006, January). The Common European Framework of Reference: Development, Theoretical, and Practical Issues. The World Bank.

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[1] Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). (2020). Annual status of education report (rural) 2020. ASER Centre.

[2] Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of syntax. MIT Press.

[3] Hymes, D. (1972). On communicative competence. In J. B. Pride, & J. Holmes (Eds.), Sociolinguistics: Selected readings (pp. 269-293). Penguin Books.

[4] Jumanazarov, U. U. (2021). Theory and structure of linguistic competence. The American Journal of Interdisciplinary Innovations and Research, 3(4), 42-47. https://doi.org/10.26450/jshsr.2368

[5] Kachru, B. B. (1985). English in the world. Cambridge University Press.

[6] Kassim, N., & Hashim, H. (2023, December). Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR): A review on its implementation in ESL/EFL classrooms. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(12), 25662591. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i12/20149

[7] Marbaniang, F. W (2016). Content and language integration: An approach to English language education among the Khasis of Meghalaya [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad.

[8] National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). (2012). National achievement survey: Class V – Language report.

[9] North, B. (2006, January). The Common European Framework of Reference: Development, Theoretical, and Practical Issues. The World Bank.