Task-based Learning Approach Research Articles

Improving Students’ Toefl Listening Skill through Task-Based Learning Approach

Toefl is urgently needed as an administrative requirement to work and participate in the scholarship competition. Students are required to master skills of this test. However, based on the results of pre-observations conducted in Information System class of Potensi Utama University, it is known that the average Toefl scores of students in Reading (37.8%), structure (32.7%), and Listening (29.5%). This phenomenon occurs because Toefl learning emphasizes a lot of activities on reading and structure skills so students do not get listening tasks with good quality and quantity. Therefore, the effective learning approach is needed to make Toefl learning process more effective in improving the listening skill of students. The result showed that there was an Improving of students’ listening skill from the test results of before observation with the highest conversion score of students’ Toefl listening is 43. Meanwhile, after being given action and application of task-based learning approach there was a change that the highest score of students’ Toefl listening in cycle I is 54 and the highest score of students’ Toefl listening in cycle II is 62. Therefore, it can be concluded that using the task-based learning approach has significantly improved students' Toefl listening skill.

The Impact of Consciousness Raising and Communicative Tasks on Fluency and Accuracy during Interaction within Saudi Secondary School Students

This study investigated the effect of collaborative tasks on language performance, with a focus on fluency and accuracy. Three groups of Saudi learners of English in a secondary school were given either awareness raising tasks, meaning-based activities or a combination. Quantitative data collected from 72 Saudi learners of English and then analysed to answer the research questions. The test results were analysed for speech fluency, written fluency, accuracy and lexical richness to provide quantitative measures of any improvement over the three test periods. Consideration was also given to language related episodes (LREs), i.e. pauses, repetitions and self-correction to identify changes during the interactions. The results indicated that there was an improvement in both fluency and accuracy. In addition, there is a likely significant benefit of encouraging interaction amongst peers during a task-based learning approach, particularly when there is a combination of CT and CR tasks, when compared to one task type. The findings underline the relationship between classroom interaction and practice and improvements in fluency and accuracy. This is important due to the increasing view that in the teaching of EFL, fluency is being neglected despite its importance in achieving communicative competence as Tavakoli and Hunter (2018) noted. As a result of the findings we argue that Saudi secondary school EFL classes should place a greater emphasis on TBL and interaction, combining both consciousness raising and communicative tasks to maximise the improved benefits seen in this study.

The Effectiveness of Task-Based Learning Approach (TBL) on Developing Communication Skills in English for the Saudi EFL Preparatory Year Students.

The Effectiveness of Task-Based Learning Approach (TBL) on Developing Communication Skills in English for the Saudi EFL Preparatory Year Students.

Review of Text Authenticity Relationship with Language Learner Motivation and Communicative Competence

Although the call for a more learner-centered pedagogy has long existed in English language teaching, viewpoints are still very controversial on what type of materials should be used in language classrooms. This paper is aimed at defining and addressing the ambiguities surrounding the concept of text authenticity and its relationship with language learner motivation and communicative competence in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT). However, wherever possible, for the purpose of maintaining criticality, data associated with pedagogic materials are also discussed. The study is based upon the theoretical strategy of research represented in a critical review of a number of research studies aimed at defining the concept of text authenticity and investigating the effects of authentic materials on language learners’ individual differences, namely learner motivation and communicative competence. The findings obtained from the literature review revealed that aspects of text authenticity may be situated in the text itself, the participants, social or cultural situations and purposes of the communicative act, or some combination of these elements. Equally important, the study concluded that a lack in language learners’ motivation and deficiency in their overall communicative competence in the English language can be attributed to teachers’ exclusive reliance on contrived text materials in a typical form of textbooks. The study recommends that teacher training courses should be aimed to develop language teachers’ practical knowledge and skills necessary for evaluating and designing TESOL materials. In addition, to introduce authentic materials into language classrooms, syllabus writers and classroom teachers need to take into consideration this methodological framework consisting of three sequential procedures: 1) conducting a careful analysis of learners’ needs in context, 2) selecting authentic texts in light of learners’ needs already analyzed in context, 3) basing teaching on the Task-Based Learning (TBL) approach that stresses the importance of activating learner schemata, awareness-raising activities and task differentiation. This triangulation methodology is likely to contribute to reducing the difficulty of text authenticity and realizing comprehensible input.

REVIEWING DEFINITIONAL AMBIGUITIES AND SIGNIFICANCE OF TEXT AUTHENTICITY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

Purpose of the study: The premise of this paper is to define and address the ambiguities surrounding the concept of text authenticity in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT).
 Methodology: It represents a critical review of a series of research studies aimed at defining the concept of text authenticity and investigating the effect of text authenticity on ESL/EFL learners’ individual differences, namely ESL/EFL learner motivation and communicative competence. However, wherever possible, for the purpose of maintaining criticality, data associated with pedagogic/contrived materials are also discussed.
 Main Findings: The aspects of text authenticity may be situated in the text itself, the participants, social or cultural situations and purposes of the communicative act, or some combination of these elements. In addition, deficiency in learners’ overall communicative competence in the English language can be attributed to teachers’ exclusive reliance on contrived text materials presented in the form of textbooks.
 Applications of this study: It is strongly recommended that teacher training courses aim to develop classroom teachers’ practical knowledge and skills necessary for designing and evaluating TESOL materials. Reaching a consensus among researchers on the issue of the effects of authentic materials on ESL/EFL students’ motivation and overall communicative competence can have fundamental implications not only for developing language curricula but also for promoting learner autonomy.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: This study addressed the ambiguities surrounding the concept of text authenticity by proposing a typology encompassing eight possible inter-related definitions of text authenticity emerging in the ELT literature. More importantly, the paper structured a triangulation framework for introducing authentic materials into language classrooms:1) careful implementation of learner need-analysis, 2) criteria-based selection of authentic texts in the light of learner need-analysis, 3) utilization of task-based learning approach stressing the importance of activating learner schemata, awareness-raising activities, and task differentiation. This triangulation methodology is likely to reduce the difficulty of text authenticity and realize comprehensible input.

Action Research in EFL: Exploring Writing Pedagogy Through a Task-based Lesson Delivery

The study attempted to move away from the more traditional Presentation, Practice, Production model of teaching to experiment with the Task Based Learning approach. Action research framework was adopted to observe a writing class with a focus on developing the paragraph level skills of the Preparatory Year EFL students. Teacher notes, peer observation report, samples of students' writing and a short student survey were used to collect the data. The results revealed that the new approach though mostly successful and effective had a few issues in regard to activity management and feedback on students' performance. The study recommends a series of similar action research initiatives to further validate the newly used teaching approach as well as introduce other pedagogic approaches which have not been practiced so far.

How to Teach Grammar to Adult ESP Learners at Technical University More Communicatively: Task-Based Approach

<p class="Abstract">The article is devoted to comparison of the effectiveness of grammar acquisition by adult learners in two types of instruction – based on the traditional PPP (Presentation, Practice, Production) approach and TBL (Task-Based Learning) approach – in ESP university classes. We conducted a qualitative research in which we tried to incorporate grammar instruction in communicative language teaching and for that purpose selected two groups of students (the PPP group and the TBL group). They were taught five topics, each with a focus on particular grammar items. The comparison of the results we obtained showed that students’ achievement in the TBL group increased more substantially than in the PPP group. Also, the majority of students in the TBL group liked learning grammar at the point of need, which we consider particularly important, since it stimulated their motivation and contributed to the acquisition of grammatical structures. When considering the positive aspects of our experience of using TBL and task-based grammar learning in particular, we should first of all point out its learner-centeredness which provides a number of advantages in teaching adult students: the focus on real communication, addressing the students’ needs by putting them into authentic communicative situations, encouragement of students’ responsibility for their own learning, exposure of students to a wide variety of language, including grammar, ability to motivate students.</p>

Task-Based Learning Approach to enhance oral production in university settings

El presente trabajo investigativo tuvo como objetivo principal el determinar el impacto del enfoque de aprendizaje basado en tareas ayuda a mejorar la habilidad de hablar de los estudiantes del Primer nivel del Centro de Idiomas de la Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo. Para determinar la efectividad de este enfoque, se aplico un pre-test y un post-test de produccion oral el cual esta basado en el examen de Cambridge KET, a los estudiantes Primer nivel de los paralelos 1K4 y 1E4 del Centro de Idiomas de la Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo durante el periodo Octubre 2018 – Marzo 2019. Se diseno una guia para el docente la cual fue utilizada durante el tratamiento dentro del aula. Los analisis de datos se realizaron antes y despues del trabajo en el aula. El diseno de la guia para el docente se realizo en base a las tres etapas del proceso de una tarea: pre-tarea, tarea misma y post-tarea con la utilizacion de varios tipos de tareas tales como individuales, grupales, abiertas, cerradas, y de informacion, tomando en cuenta la motivacion y el reto que cada tarea implica en el mejoramiento de la produccion oral de los estudiantes. Despues de concluir el tratamiento con la implementacion de la propuesta, se procedio al procesamiento de los datos obtenidos del pre-test y el post-test mediante la prueba matematica T de Student. Los resultados demuestran que efectivamente el enfoque de aprendizaje basado en tareas tuvo un impacto positivo en el desarrollo de la produccion oral de los estudiantes quienes mejoraron su habilidad para hablar. Por lo tanto, se recomienda que los docentes apliquen esta propuesta con el enfoque de aprendizaje basado en tareas para mejorar el desenvolvimiento oral de los estudiantes.

Enfoque de aprendizaje basado en tareas en el desarrollo de la habilidad del habla

El propósito central del presente artículo científico fue determinar la influencia del Enfoque de aprendizaje basado en tareas que ayuda a fortalecer la capacidad de los estudiantes de habla del Centro de Idiomas de la Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo nivel 1. Para determinar la efectividad de este procedimiento, un Los exámenes previos y posteriores basados en el examen Cambridge KET - parte oral, se dieron a los estudiantes de primer nivel en el Centro de Idiomas de la Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, clases 1K4 y 1E4 durante el período de octubre de 2018 a marzo de 2019. A Se diseñó un manual para el maestro que se utilizó durante el procedimiento en el aula. La interpretación de los datos se realizó antes y después del trabajo en el aula. El diseño del manual para el maestro se realizó en base a las tres etapas del proceso de una tarea: tarea previa, tarea propia y tarea posterior con el uso de varios tipos de tareas como individual, grupal, abierta, cerrada, y tareas de falta de información, teniendo en cuenta el desafío y el incentivo que cada tarea implica en el aumento de la habilidad de hablar de los alumnos. Una vez que el procedimiento ha finalizado con la implementación de la propuesta, el análisis de datos obtenido de la prueba previa y posterior se analizó mediante el uso de la prueba T-student. La conclusión muestra que, efectivamente, el Enfoque de aprendizaje basado en tareas tuvo una influencia positiva en el desarrollo de la producción oral de los estudiantes que mejoraron su capacidad de hablar. Por lo tanto, se recomienda que los maestros apliquen esta propuesta con el enfoque de aprendizaje basado en tareas para mejorar el rendimiento oral de los estudiantes.

Using technological modality to learn vocabulary incidentally and intentionally for effective communication

Vocabulary is the flesh of a language, which is an indispensable constituent for a language. This research highlights the role of language learners' acquisition in incidental and intentional vocabulary by using technological modality. Effective usage of vocabulary in communication and comprehension is crucial and demanding as well. English being the diplomatic language, and which is witnessed as a parameter for graduates, particularly in job acquisition. There are numerous teaching methods were followed for effective learning. In order to benefit, English as a second language (ESL) learners and English as a foreign language (EFL) learners, task-based learning (TBL) approach is observed to be an effective learning method. This paper devices to use technology, entertainment, and design (TED) talk video with subtitles in the syllabus of TBL learning for effective learning of incidental and intentional vocabulary in language and succeeded by analysing the response from the students. The study reveals the significant development and interest in learning a new word by using the authentic instructional TED talk videos for vocabulary learning and vocabulary acquisition.

A Critical Examination of Presentation-Practice-Production and the Task-Based Methods of Teaching English as a Second Language in Large Secondary School Classes

This article focuses on identifying methods in existing literature which could ameliorate the problems of large classes and students’ failure in English Language Examinations at the Senior Secondary school level, in Nigeria especially. A possible contributory factor to this problem is large and overcrowded classrooms, which force most teachers to utilise teacher-centred methods. This article therefore examines the characteristics of the most commonly used teacher-centred method, Presentation, Practice and Production (PPP), alongside the Task-Based Learning (TBL) method, which is student-centred, as a possible alternative in Nigerian ESL classrooms that could ameliorate the problem of large classes and stem the failure rates in examinations. After examining both methods, this study concludes that the Task-Based Learning approach, which is fairly new in the ESL classroom, has advantages for the improvement of language teaching and learning in large ESL classes. It recommends that both teachers in ESL classrooms and researchers in language teaching methodology should test it for effectiveness, with a view to adopting it for teaching ESL in Nigeria and other places where large classes are characteristic.

A Systematic Review of the Challenges and Solutions of ESL Students’ Academic Writing

Research studies on ESL writing are more interested in providing operational writing strategies for academic writing. However, there are not many studies on challenges faced by students and their solutions. The main aim of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review of academic writing studies which focused on investigating students’ academic writing challenges and their solutions. The papers used in this study were published from 2010 until 2019. A systematic search of literature proposed in this paper employs the exploratory approach for identifying and evaluating twenty-seven articles published in the authentic Journals. The themes of the review are divided into two categories, one which is related to ESL Malaysian students and another category is regarding non-Malaysians, this is due to the context of the study which will be conducted in Malaysia and therefore a review of studies done on Malaysian student academic writing is justified. The review shows there is a broader context of ESL students’ academic writing challenges and factors influencing students’ academic writing skills. In addition, as mentioned above, the review clearly shows the highlight of previous studies was on strategies which help improve students writing skills. As a conclusion, the review signifies that there are three major enormous challenges faced by ESL students in academic writing, such as teaching methods, students’ attitude towards English, and language ability. And the solutions to the challenges are to employ active learning English language teaching methods, for example, Task-Based learning (TBL), Blended learning, Collaborative learning and cognitive approach, in teaching writing.

The Effect of Task-Based Learning (TBL) Approach on the Students’ Listening Comprehension at the Tenth Grade of SMAN 3 Kota Bengkulu

This research was aimed to find out the effect of TBL approach on the students’ listening comprehension. This research is a quasi-experimental which was conducted at SMAN 3 Kota Bengkulu in academic year of 2018/2019. The population of this research was the tenth grade students distributed in two classes with the total of 68 students. X- MIPA 1 as experimental group consisted of 34 students and X-MIPA II for control group consisted of 34 students. The instruments of this research was a listening test in the form essay and multiple choice consisted of 14 questions. Pre-test and post-test were conducted in both, experimental and control class. The finding of the result showed that the students taught by using TBL approach got higher score than those taught without TBL approach. The result showed that there was a significant effect of using TBL approach on the students’ achievement in listening comprehension which was proven by the result of analysis in independent sample t-test was < 0,05 . It means the alternative hypothesis was accepted. Based on the results and discussions at the research, it can be concluded that teaching and learning listening by using task-based learning approach has a positive effect on students’ listening comprehension. Some suggestions are proposed, Recommendation to teachers using Task-Based Learning Approach in english teaching and learning process because based on this research and previous research indicate the use of Task-Based Learning Approach give positive impact on english learning and The next researcher is recommended to using Task-Based Learning Approach in other English field like speaking and can be use in other method such as english classroom action research.

La ELAO en el marco del enfoque por tareas

La enseñanza de lenguas a través del ordenador (ELAO) puede tener lugar de dos maneras: (1) ELAO tutorial, donde el estudiante interactúa con los materiales digitales por su propia cuenta y (2) ELAO social, donde el ordenador provee el medio en el cual las personas llevan a cabo la comunicación a distancia. Cada ambiente aporta ventajas para el aprendizaje de una segunda lengua (2/L), especialmente si el marco pedagógico apunta a un enfoque por tareas (González Lloret & Ortega 2014). Los medios sociales y las videoconferencias han ampliado lo que se entiende por comunicación y pueden constituir nuevas estrategias para fomentar la adquisición de una 2/L. A la vez, no se deben minimizar los beneficios que ofrecen los programas/materiales de la ELAO tutorial, especialmente si se contempla lo difícil que es aprender un léxico adecuado y las colocaciones en una 2/L, junto con el desafío de controlar una nueva morfología y sintaxis. Por supuesto, hay que implementar estas nuevas tecnologías digitales de manera que sigan una autenticidad cultural y que se ajusten bien a las necesidades tanto del estudiante como del instructor (Hubbard 2006). En este estudio, se expondrán estos conceptos con ejemplos específicos de la Web 2.0, junto a sugerencias de cómo integrar las TIC dentro de un programa de 2/L con el enfoque por tareas.

Implementing interactive courseware into EFL business writing: computational assessment and learning satisfaction

ABSTRACTThe implementation of interactive courseware within a task-based learning (TBL) approach was conducted for English Writing for Business to Chinese students in an applied foreign languages department housed in a university of technology. The development of the interactive courseware is based on Mayer’s multimedia learning theory, which allows learners to construct verbal and visual cognitive representations and integrate them; its language learning focus is keyed to Chapelle’s suggested criteria for development of multimedia CALL (computer assisted language learning). According to the curriculum, students had to accomplish three tasks rooted in the real world workplace: inquiry, negotiation, and complaint. Evaluation of the interactive ESP courseware into TBL instruction was based upon data from students’ pre- and post-writing performance measured by three different types of online computational assessments. In addition, a questionnaire survey about learning satisfaction was administered. The results indicate that students had significantly better post-writing performance and showed greater satisfaction after self-studying with the courseware-implemented instruction, which effectively integrated content knowledge, integrative English skills and writing practices embedded in the courseware. This instruction could be a potentially useful for teaching business writing by providing both content knowledge and its related integrative language practice.

Effectiveness of ESL students' performance by computational assessment and role of reading strategies in courseware-implemented business translation tasks

ABSTRACTThis study reports on investigating students’ English translation performance and their use of reading strategies in an elective English writing course offered to senior students of English as a Foreign Language for 100 minutes per week for 12 weeks. A courseware-implemented instruction combined with a task-based learning approach was adopted. Based on the same source texts in Chinese, students were asked to complete three English translation tasks rooted in real-life business contexts: announcements, sales letters, and public relation reports. A questionnaire about reading strategies was administered at the end of the instruction. Two types of computational assessment were used to evaluate students’ translation performance. The results indicated that students’ post-translation was quantitatively and qualitatively improved after receiving 12-week's courseware-implemented instruction, such as writing more words, using more different words of high level, enhancing lexical density, and making fewer errors. An independent sample t-test analysis indicated that a significant difference existed between students with higher and lower writing proficiency in two individual reading strategies related to metacognitive strategies that are higher order executive skills.

EFL Students’ Social Identities Construction Through Gender-Based Short Stories

This research study took place in a public school in Bogota with 38 students from 7th grade who were among 12 and 16 years of age. This qualitative action research intends (a) to identify discourses students draw on to construct social identities in the EFL classroom b) to describe social identities constructed discursively in relation to gender-based short stories and c) to study the potential relationship between these discursively constructed social identities in gendered-related reading activities and foreign language learning. Data was collected by observing and analyzing three pedagogical units, which were designed by following the stages of the Task Based Learning Approach (TBL). Besides that, I used field notes, video and audio recordings and students´ artifacts. Data was analyzed by following the steps proposed by Grounded theory (GT) (Charmaz, 2006) and the principles of Critical Classroom Discourse Analysis (CCDA) (Kumaravadivelu, 1999). Data revealed a main category and three subcategories, which showed the relationship between the gender-based short stories read by the students and the identities they portrayed during the lessons.

Addressing grammar in the interaction task-based learning environment

One of the major problems in language teaching is developing grammatical accuracy. This paper proposes that using error correction based on a functional grammar in a task-based learning approach may be a suitable solution. Towards this end an emic (using categories intrinsic to the language) functional grammar of the verb phrase is proposed and a description of how this fits into the focus on form component of task-based learning is provided.

Task-based Learning and Language Proficiency in a Business University

This project adds to the growing body of empirical research focusing on the effects of task-based learning (TBL) on second language acquisition. Through the design and implementation of two business English case studies, in which learning was scaffolded through a sequence of tasks, the authors argue that a TBL approach to language teaching more effectively engages students and promotes greater oral language proficiency than traditional approaches. The authors argue that guiding students to utilise and combine their existing knowledge and skills with vocabulary and structures presented in class to solve case study problems has the potential to result in greater student confidence and, subsequently, greater language proficiency. Nevertheless, various factors can significantly reduce the successfulness of TBL in this context, including disparate learner profiles in cultural and business knowledge, life experiences, motivation, as well as constraints in terms of time and institutional assessment.

Learning English with Augmented Reality: Do learning styles matter?

This study attempted to develop and compare two Augmented Reality (AR) educational game systems for third graders to learn English vocabulary in free and situated surroundings. One system was developed based on a self-directed learning approach which did not restrict the learning sequence, while the other was based on a task-based learning approach which limited the learning sequence. The flow experience, cognitive load, foreign language learning anxiety, and learning effectiveness of the students with different learning styles (i.e., serial or global) were assessed. The results showed that the students using the self-directed or task-based AR educational game system had similar and high learning effectiveness, although those using the self-directed system revealed higher flow experience. However, the students with a serial learning style had lower mental effort and foreign language learning anxiety regardless of using the self-directed or the task-based AR educational game system. It was found that the challenge and control of the system conformed to the students' proficiency. The learning objects (e.g., pen, pencil, book, chair, desk, eraser, ruler, etc.) did not have a restrictive learning sequence. Providing free learning steps was preferable, and restricting which step to begin with was not necessary. This study confirms that the mental efforts of students are greater when they experience more learning anxiety at the same time; however, it is not the case that lower learning anxiety and mental effort is better for learning. On the contrary, a little learning anxiety and mental effort, but not too much, is helpful for learning.