Effects of task-based language teaching approach on speaking anxiety and achievements of English for nursing

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of task-based language teaching approach on the speaking anxiety and achievements of spoken English for nursing.Methods Two classes of nursing majors in grade 2010 from Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities were chosen as the research respondents,among which Class one (47 students) and Class two (51 students) were set as the experimental and control class respectively.To teach spoken English for nursing,task-based language teaching approach was used in the experimental class and traditional method was used in the control class.The anxiety scale and the proficiency test of the spoken English for nursing were adopted after the experimental teaching in order to compare the significant differences between the two classes.Results The speaking anxiety level of English for nursing in the experimental class was lower than that in the control class,and there was significant difference between the two classes.The total test score of the spoken English for nursing in the experimental class was higher than that in the control class,and the total score,the scores of fluency,vocabulary and grammar in the experimental class were significantly different to those in the control class.Conclusions Task-based language teaching approach could reduce the speaking anxiety of English for nursing,and improve the nursing majors' achievements of spoken English for nursing. Key words: Task-based language teaching approach; English for nursing; Spoken English; Anxiety; Achievements