A Review on the International Task-Based Language Teaching in Recent Ten Years: A Scientometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace

Abstract

This paper presented a scientometric analysis of task-based language teaching using CiteSpace based on the research literature retrieved from the Web of Science core collection between 2011 and 2021. CiteSpace is employed to analyze the data, as it minimizes subjectiveness and increases credibility. A total of 626 bibliographic records related to task-based teaching were systematically visualized and examined to identify the number of papers, high influential literature, high cited authors, research frontier and hot spots. The findings are as follows: 1) From the perspective of the total number of documents issued, the research on task-based language teaching is gradually increasing all over the world; 2) The topics that have been published and cited mainly focus on the interpretation of the theories related to task-based language teaching, its application in the second language classroom and its interdisciplinary research trend; 3) Research frontiers and hot topics mainly focus on classroom teaching and pay attention to students’ language acquisition. The results of the study have implications for the research of Task-based Language Teaching in China.