Advantages and Disadvantages of Teaching Students Via Competent Based Approach in Order to Improve Their Listening and Speaking in Finland

The competency-based approach (CBA) has gained widespread adoption in educational systems aroundthe world, notably in Finland, where it complements the country’s emphasis on developing practical skills and lifelonglearning. This article examines the benefits and drawbacks of using CBA to improve students’ speaking and listeningabilities in Finnish classrooms, particularly in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) settings. The study highlights howCBA promotes individualized, real-world communication while addressing challenges such as resource limitations andinconsistent assessment. The analysis draws on a review of the literature on Finnish vocational and general educationpractices, EFL teaching methodologies, and broader applications of CBA. Improved communication skills, learnerautonomy, and the integration of authentic tasks are identified as key benefits that enhance speaking and listening fluencyand interaction. Conversely, time constraints, student anxiety, and the absence of standardized oral examinations arerecognized as drawbacks that may hinder the development of comprehensive communicative skills. The findings indicatethat although CBA significantly enhances oral proficiency within Finland’s student-centered educational system, its overalleffectiveness depends on teacher preparation, curricular adaptability, and the removal of cultural barriers to cooperation.The article recommends increasing oral practice activities in textbooks and introducing national-level oral assessments tobetter align educational outcomes with global communicative demands