A Comparative Study of Communicative Competence between D.Ed. and B.Ed. Teacher Trainees

This research investigates the levels of communicative competence among pre-service teacher trainees. It provides a comparison between students pursuing a Diploma in Education (D.Ed.) and those pursuing a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.). Communicative competence in this study comprises linguistic proficiency, non-verbal cues, instructional clarity, and interpersonal rapport. Using a descriptive survey method, data was collected from a sample of 60 trainees (30 D.Ed., 30 B.Ed.) in the Jalgaon region. The researcher utilized a standardized Communicative Competence Scale to measure variables. Findings indicate a significant difference in the style and dimension of competence, with D.Ed. trainees excelling in non-verbal and affective communication, while B.Ed. trainees showed higher linguistic and discourse competence. The study suggests a need for integrated communication labs in teacher training curricula.