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Task-Based Language Teaching

Stephanie Hanson

University of Illinois

What is a task?

“a piece of work undertaken for oneself or for others, freely or for some reward … the hundred and one things people do in everyday life”

(Long, 1985, pg. 89)

What is a task?

“a piece of work undertaken for oneself or for others, freely or for some reward … the hundred and one things people do in everyday life”

(Long, 1985, pg. 89)

What is a task?

Activity that is the result of understanding language

Teacher defines successful completionVariety of tasks is more communicativeProvides purpose for classroom activity

beyond practicing language for its own sake

(Richards, Platt, & Webber, 1985)

What is a task?

Structured language learning endeavor with– objective– appropriate content– specified working procedure– range of outcomes

Overall purpose is facilitating language learning

(Breen, 1987)

Task-Based Language Teaching Uses…

Authentic language activitiesClear educational objectivesImplementation and assessment proceduresAppropriate and meaningful content

Social Interaction Hypothesis

When socially interacting, learners must:– Negotiate to comprehend input– Negotiate to produce comprehensible output

Negotiation helps language acquisition

(Long, 1996)

4 Qualities of Good Tasks

1. Require social interaction

2. Use two-way interaction

3. Have a closed outcome

4. Have convergent goal

(Pica, Kanagy, & Falodun, 1993)

Example of Task-Based Lesson

Job InterviewingListening/Speaking class

Low intermediate students

8 hours

Pre-task 1

Guess Your Job Jigsaw– Requires social interaction– Two-way interaction– Closed outcome– Convergent goals

Pre-task 2

Business Card Information Gap– Requires social interaction– Two-way interaction– Closed outcome– Convergent goals

Pre-task 3

Small Group Work – Personality Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself

2. What are your strengths?

3. What are your weaknesses?

4. What qualifications do you have for this job?

Pre-task 3

Small Group Work – Personality Interview Questions– Closed outcome– Convergent goals

Pre-task 4

Movie Clips of Job Interviews and Small Group Discussion

Example of bad interview

Good Will Hunting

Erin Brokovich

Example of good interview

Mrs. Doubtfire

Pre-task 4

Movie Clips of Job Interviews and Small Group Discussion– Closed outcome– Convergent goals

Pre-task 5

Common Interview Question Jigsaw

Past experience

Future plans

Work behavior

Why you want this job

Pre-task 5

Common Interview Question Jigsaw– Requires social interaction– Two-way interaction– Closed outcome– Convergent goals

Pre-task 6

Jigsaw: Interview Openings, Closings, & Tips

TIPS for GREETINGS

TIPS for CLOSINGS

GENERAL TIPS

Introduce yourselfSay you are interested

in the jobSpeak positively

about yourself

Shake hands with the interviewer

Thank the interviewer for his/her time

Be friendly and smile

Pre-task 6

Jigsaw: Interview Openings, Closings, & Tips– Requires social interaction– Two-way interaction– Closed outcome– Convergent goals

Pre-task 7

Interview role plays– Requires social interaction– Two-way interaction– Convergent goals

Main Task

Mock Job Interview– Requires social interaction– Two-way interaction– AUTHENTIC!

Post-task

Self evaluationImmediately after interview

As observer watching video

For more details…

http://segue.atlas.uiuc.edu/sites/shanson1

click on “EIL 467”

http://caiutn.wordpress.com www.utn.edu.ec

Emails: eventscai@utn.edu.ec racongo@utn.edu.ec jgburgos@utn.edu.ec

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