Task based teaching and learning shirley chan, alice chik and phil benson english department, hong kong institute of education this bibliography is an initial result from a smallscale english department research funded project on developing web based bibliographic resources to support departmental research activities. Competency based education combines an intentional and. Taskbased learning offers the student an opportunity to do exactly this. But proponents of task as the organizational unit justify it especially on pedagogic and psycholinguistic grounds. The new way of english teaching task based language learning is kind of all the rage these days as part of the overall communicative approach. In task based language teaching, the teacher becomes not only a facilitator but an enhancer of language learning. Taskbased learning tbl jane willis in her 1996 book, a framework for taskbased learning, outlines a different approach to teaching and learning which places the completion of a task at the centre of a lesson or series of lessons. Such tasks can include visiting a doctor, conducting an interview, or calling customer service for help.
The taskbased approach in language teaching 41 is the goal in the first section of this paper. Educators adopted t ask ba sed lan guage lea rning for a variety of reasons. The task is an activity in which students use language to achieve a specific outcome. An emphasis on learning to communicate through interaction in the target language. A framework for task based learning is a complete guide to the methodology and practice of task based language teaching. Definition of task based approach the task based approach is a foreign language method that has evolved since the 1980s. It can bring teaching from abstract knowledge to real world application. Some moved to task based syllabus in an attempt to make language in the classroom truly communicative, rather than the pseudocommunication that results from classroom activities with no direct. For example, drawing a map while listening to an instruction and performing a command.
Following an explanation of the teaching stages of this framework will be an analysis of the method according to the essentials of language learning that jane willis presented in her book and also a system for assessing lesson structure developed by. Task based learning allows for a natural setting of context where students can base their learning on their own experiences. For those who wish to adopt a genuinely learnercentred approach to their teaching, it offers an alternative framework to the presentation, practice, production model. Heres a 10page pdf download by cambridge for more information about tblt. This makes learning far more personal and relevant to your students in many cases. Taskbased learning tbl is an approach to secondforeign language l2 learning and teaching and a teaching methodology in which classroom tasks constitute the main focus of instruction r. While designing tasks underpins this new title, the material has been thoroughly updated and. Task based learning 4 tasks are activities where the target language is used by the learner for a communicative purpose goal in order to achieve an outcome as defined by willis. A quick guide to task based learning when using task based learning, teachers ask their students to perform tasks that resemble authentic, reallife situations. Task based learning is a different way to teach languages. Next, we go deeper into tblt by looking at the inherent advantages of such a method. The task based emphasized the fact that teaching should be conducted with real life tasks lin. Its origins within communicative language teaching and second.
The present study adopts an action research approach. A taskbased approach teachingenglish british council. In other words motor learning is specific to the task. First, the subarea of task based instruction is introduced and contextualised. In this definition, we can see that the authors take a pedagogical perspec tive. Taskbased learning tbl is a lesson structure, a method of sequencing activities in your lessons. It gives the student a different way of understanding language as a tool instead of as a specific goal. Students are encouraged to use language creatively and spontaneously through tasks and problem solving. The complete guide to taskbased language teaching with 3.
In education, a task refers to an activity where communication is necessary. Task based languag e learni ng has it s origins in communicative language teachi ng, and is a subcategory of it. The influence of task based learning on efl classrooms. Tasks are defined in terms of what the learners will do in class rather. Using taskbased approach in improving the students. Task and projectbased learning in the elt classroom. This focuses on having students being competent communicators as opposed to some of the older models like grammar translation or the audiolingual method. Within this group work, they are able to observe different approaches to problem solving as. A task usually requires the teacher to specify what will be regarded as.
The process of taskbased learning itself teaches important skills. Task based learning framework components of a tbl framework pre. In the tbl approach, the main focus is the authentic use of language for genuine communication. A detailed discussion will follow on what a task is and on the various definitions proposed. Methods of language teaching introduction questions for thought and observation grammartranslation method audiolingual method cognitive approach total physical response natural approach communicative language teaching tpr storytelling content based instruction task based instruction lexical approach. Those who support tasked based instruction method are opposed to structural syllabus model as a way of developing proficiency in l2 because in their view, the conventional methods do not adhere to the process of natural language learning, long. The introduction of authentic texts into the learning situation. It can help the student by placing her in a situation like in the real world.
Tbl taskbased learning, or tblt taskbased language teaching is an approach in which learning revolves around the completion of meaningful tasks. With the above example, they made notes about their suggestions. Emphasis on meaning and authenticity of communication appeal to many teachers and learners of languages. Taskbased learning focuses on learners using language naturally in pairs or group work, allowing them to share ideas nunan, 2004. The field of task based language teaching has developed considerably since the publication of designing tasks for the communicative classroom nunan, 1989, a book which helped to set the research agenda in teaching methodology for the following decade. Taskbased language learning is an approach where the planning of learning materials and teaching sessions are based around doing a task. The primary focus of classroom activity is the task and language is the instrument which the students use to complete it. Students learn how to ask questions, how to negotiate meaning and how to interact in and work within groups. An activity or action which is carried out as a result of processing or understanding language i.
Language teaching and task based approach academy publication. For example, drawing a map while listening to an instruction. The strengths and weaknesses of a task based syllabus. In a taskbased lesson the teacher doesnt predetermine what language will be studied, the lesson is based around the completion of a central task and the language studied is determined by what happens as the students complete it. A situation where oral communication is essential for doing a specific task. The competency based education network cben is a group of institutions that, together, are leaders in defining, describing and supporting competency based education. Sometimes called taskbased language teaching, tbl lessons students solve a task that involves an authentic use of language, rather than completing simple language questions about grammar or vocabulary. From theory to practice in task based learning ali shehadeh and christine coombe task based learning tbl is an approach to secondforeign language l2 learning and teaching and a teaching methodology in which classroom tasks constitute the main focus of instruction r. Taskbased activities for literacy and basic skills. This fully searchable database provides task based activities available in microsoft word and pdf to help you support your students in achieving their goals. The present paper seeks to study and present the strengths and weaknesses of task based learning approach.
The factors that contributed to the task based revolution and the different types of tasks that are used in a language classroom are also discussed. Task based learning 3 tbl methodology what is task based learning. A task is helpful in meeting the immediate needs of. Then, how taskbased language instruction creates effective learning. Taskbased learning, for many years, has been considered as a learning model which can increase students engagement in learning process robinson, 2011.
This approach particularly challenges students who are used to a more traditional classroom, say, focussing on analyzing, practicing, and memorizing a few irregular verbs. Task based learning offers an alternative for language teachers. Abstract increasing learners motivation and performance has always been the primary concern of language teachers. Adapted from jane willis a framework for task based learning longman. Methods of language teaching brigham young university. Balance training on a wobble board or core stability exercises on a therapy ball wont do the trick. Grammatical competence and communicative competence are extremely. Definition of task and taskbased learning there have been many different. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia taskbased language teaching tblt, also known as taskbased instruction tbi, focuses on the use of authentic language and on asking students to do meaningful tasks using the target language. Pedagogically, task based language teaching has strengthened the following principles and practices. The first of these is the pretask stage, during which the teacher introduces and defines the topic and the learners engage in activities that either help them to recall words and phrases that will be useful during the performance of the main task or to learn new words and phrases that are essential to the task. Tbl can expose your students to many more varied uses of english than ppp can. A task based approach to language teaching 93 the rationale for task, as well as its definition, varies among different syllabus designers.
Task based activities for lbs is a collection of activities aligned to the ontario adult literacy curriculum framework oalcf and organized by stream, goal path and level. Task based learning is useful for moving the focus of the learning process from the teacher to the student. Task based learning focuses on the use of authentic language through meaningful tasks such as visiting the doctor or a telephone call. A framework for tasked based learning by jane willis. Taskbased learning tbl is typically based on three stages. Pdf in taskbased learning the emphasis is on meaning and the learners are required to use the language for learning. If you want to learn to ride a bicycle you need to practice riding a bicycle. The former requires a syllabus where the content is specified entirely in terms of the tasks to be performed i. Taskbased learning models there have been many taskbased tbl models for class lessons. This will lay the ground for a balanced criticism of the tba and will allow the reader to draw some positive and realistic conclusions on the issue. Activating learners content schemata or providing them with background information serves as a means of defining the topic area of a task. Pdf this paper aims at presenting background of taskbased language teaching, giving a definition of a task, describing three main approaches to. These activities are performed by putting an emphasis on meaning. The general overview that includes the definition and the rationale of taskbased language instruction will be outlined.