TASK BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING

Task-based learning focuses on the use of authentic language through meaningful tasks such as visiting the doctor or a telephone call.  This method encourages meaningful communication and is student-centred.

Characteristics:

• Students are encouraged to use language creatively and spontaneously through tasks and problem solving
• Students focus on a relationship that is comparable to real world activities
• The conveyance of some sort of meaning is central to this method
• Assessment is primarily based on task outcome
• TBLT is student-centered

Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) is the latest trend in SLL approaches.  Although it has produced very positive results in certain contexts (eg small class sizes of immigrant children), like every method that has preceded it, TBLT is also revealing its weaknesses.  Broady (2006) notes that TBLT may not provide sufficient "Interaction Opportunities."  Bruton (2005) identifies other concerns:

• There is no acquisition of new grammar or vocabulary features
• Everything is left to the teacher
• Not all students are or will be motivated by TBLT
• Some students need more guidance and will not or cannot `notice´ language forms (grammar) or other elements of accuracy
• Students typically translate and use a lot of their L1 rather than the target language in completing the tasks.

http://www.educ.ualberta.ca/staff/olenka.bilash/best%20of%20bilash/taskbasedlanguageteaching.html

Activity

Topic: Fruits 

Pretask (Input): Teacher are going to show to the students different pictures with the vocabulary of fruits. Teacher has to write the question What is your favorite fruit? on the table and to explain at the students the meaning. 

Task: Students have to interview their partners and they have to ask What is your favorite fruit? They have to write the name of your partner and the fruit. For example: Luisa likes the apples, Santiago Likes the pears. 

Output: Students have to analize the information and they have to find what  fruit is the best for them.


Created by: Jasbleydi Rincón and Teacher