Chapter NineChapter Nine

(Task-based Approach , Task-based Learning, or Task-based Instruction)

Task-based Language Teaching

1. What is a task?2. What is TBLT?3. Main features4. TBLT and CLT5. Teaching procedures6. Disadvantages7. Proper attitudes to it

Contents

1. What is a “task” ?

A task is an activity which requires learners to use language , with emphasis on meaning , to attain an objective.

Bygate, Skehan & Swain (2001)

Tasks are activities where the target language is used by the learner for communicative purpose in order to achieve an outcome.

Jane Willis(1996)学习者为着某种交际目的而使用目的语并能获得某种结果的一种活动。

• A task is an activity or action which is carried out as the result of processing or understanding language ( i.e.as a response).

(Richards, Platt and Weber 1986:289)

任务：人们在学习、理解、体会语言之后所开展的活动。

Different kinds of tasks:

• drawing a map while listening to a tape

• looking at a set of pictures and deciding what should be done

• completing a banking application

• listening to a weather forecast and deciding what to wear exchanging name cards responding to a party invitation describing a photograph of one’s family

We can define a “task” from the following aspects:

1.A task is goal-directed.

2.A task involves a primary focus on meaning.

3.The participants choose the linguistic resources needed to complete the task.

4.A task has a clearly defined outcome.

—Rod Ellis

1. Meaning is primary. （意义是首要的）。

2.There is a communicative problem to be solved. （有某个交际问题需要解决。）

3.There is some sort of relationship to comparable real-world activities. （ 任 务 具 有 在 现 实 生 活 中 有 发 生 的 可 能性。）

4.Task completion has some priority. （完成任务是首要考虑。）

5.The assessment of the task is in terms of outcomes. （根据任务的结果评估任务的执行情况。）

——Skehan （ 1998 ）

Goal: Exchanging personal information

Input: Questionnaire on sleeping habits

Activity: 1) Reading questionnaire

2) Asking and answering

questions about sleeping habits

Teacher role: Monitor and facilitator

to specify what is regarded as

successful completion of the task

Learner role: Conversational partner

Setting: Classroom / pair work

— 转引自张琳琳（ 2004 ）

What are differences between tasks and exercises?

tasksexercises

focus

situation

outcome

language

error

form meaning

no situation real-life situation

correct form accomplishment of task

practice of assigned form choice of form and content

immediate correction delayed correction

5) .Here are some activities adopted in the present text books. Please check if they are tasks.

Activity 1: Listen to Alexis and Joe.

Number the pictures[1-3]

Activity 2: Listen again. Fill in the blanks

with the correct verbs from the box.

——Go for it, 8B P5

Activity 3:On a piece of paper, write about your life in ten years. Don’t write your name on the paper. Put all the students’ paper together. Take turns reading the papers, Then guess who wrote them.

——Go for it, 8B P6

Activity 4: Read the letter to Aunt Chen’s column and then write some advice.

——Go for it, 8B P15

Activity 5: Look at the pictures. Listen

and check what Lingling can do.

—New Standard English 7A P8

Activity 6: Listen and choose the correct

picture.

—New Standard English 7A P14

Activity 7: Look at the pictures and

complete the sentences.

—New Standard English 7A P12

Four dimensions of teaching and learning tasks represented by the “four eyes” :Involvement ( 参与 ), Inquiry ( 探究 ), Induction( 归纳 ), Incorporation ( 整合 ).

TBLT

IncorporationInduction

Inquiry

Involvement

learning then using

learning by using

learning for using

learning by doing

doing things with(by) language

2. What is TBLT?

Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) refers to an approach based on the use of tasks as the core unit of instruction in language.

Definition:

任务型教学就是以具体的任务为学习动力或动机，以完成任务的过程为学习的过程，以展示任务成果的方式（而不是以测试的分数）来体现教学的成就。

— 陈 琳 王 蔷 程晓堂（ 2002 ： 104-105 ）

所谓任务型语言教学，其核心思想就是要模所谓任务型语言教学，其核心思想就是要模拟人们在社会、学校生活中人们运用语言所从事拟人们在社会、学校生活中人们运用语言所从事的各类活动，把语言教学与学习者在今后的日常的各类活动，把语言教学与学习者在今后的日常生活中的语言应用结合起来。生活中的语言应用结合起来。

— 转引自张琳琳（ 2004 ）

the features of Task-based Language Teaching

—Rod Ellis

1.TBLT offers the opportunity for “natural” learning inside the classroom.

2.It emphasizes meaning over form but can also cater for learning form.

3.It is intrinsically ( 本质上 ) motivating.

4.It is compatible （一致） with a learner-centered educational philosophy.

5.It can be used alongside a more traditional approach.

3. Main Features:

1. An emphasis on learning to communicate through

interaction in the target language. 强调通过交流来学会交际。

2. The introduction of authentic texts into the learnin

g situation. 将真实的语言材料引入学习的环境。

3.Provision of opportunities for learners to focus, not only on language, but also on the learning process itself. 关注语言的本身，也关注学习的过程。

4. An enhancement of the learners’ own

personal experiences as important

contributing elements to classroom learning.

把学习者个人的经历作为课堂学习的重要因素。

5. An attempt to link classroom language learning with language activation outside the classroom.

试图把课内的语言学习与社会的语言活动结合

起来。 ( David Nunan 1991)

Task-based Language Teaching is, in fact, a further

development of Communicative Language Teaching.

It shares the same beliefs, such as language should be

learned as close as possible to how it is used in real

life. However, it has stressed the importance to

combine form-focused teaching with communication-

focused teaching.

4.What is the relationship between TBLT and CLT (similarities and differences)?

5.Teaching procedures

1.Pre-task phase;

2.While (Main, During) -task phase;

3.Post-task phase

Three phases in a task-based lesson:

Introduce to topic and task

Task cycle

Task

Planning

Report

Language focus

Analysis

Practice

Pre-task

Willis’ model for task-based instruction (Willis, 1996:127)

Long 1991

Pre-task phase:Pre-task phase:

Three purposes:

--to serve to introduce new language that learners can use while performing the task;

--to mobilize ( 动员 ) existing linguistic resources;

--to ease processing load.

• Some options:

Allow the students time to plan.

1. Provide a model

2. Do a similar task

3. Pre-teach key linguistic items

On general cognitive demands of the task

对任务要求的总体感知An emphasis on linguistic factors 关注语言因素Supporting learners in performing a task similar to

the task they will perform in the while-task phase of the lesson 让学生完成一些与中任务阶段类似的任务

Non-task preparation activities

--- brain storming 头脑风暴--- mind map 思维图

While-task phase:Some options:1. Participatory structure 参与方式 : Whole-class

vs. small group work; individual or interaction 2. Set a time for completing the task.3. Vary the number of participants.4. Introduce a surprise element.5. Tell students they will have to present a report to

the whole class.• pair and group work are seen as central to task-ba

sed teaching; not all tasks are interactive

At this stage, learners are reminded that fluency is

not the only goal during task completion, and that

restructuring and accuracy also have importance

Task choice: the appropriate difficulty level.1 Not too difficult2 Not too easy

The post-task phase:Three major pedagogical goals:

-- to provide an opportunity for a repeat performance of the task （提供再做任务的机会）-- to encourage reflection on how the task was performed （反思任务是怎样完成的）-- to encourage attention to form （关注语言的形式）

Reviewing of learner errors 反思错误Consciousness-raising tasks 语法意识Production-practice activities 操练活动Noticing accuracy 注意语言的准确

Consciousness-raising tasksConsciousness-raising tasks•There is an attempt to isolate a specific linguistic feature for focused attention 就某一语法现象单独讲解•The learners are provided with data that illustrate the targeted feature or an explicit rule describing or explaining the feature 给例子说明语法用法或对语法详细描述•The learners are expected to utilize intellectual effort to understand the targeted features 通过思考理解语法用法•Learners may be optionally required to verbalize a rule describing the grammatical structure 可以要求学生口头描述语法结构•To direct students to attend explicitly to a specific form they used incorrectly or failed to use at all in the main task 补充不足

Production-practice activities:Production-practice activities:

Repetition 重复活动Substitution 替换练习Gapped sentences 填空练习Jumbled sentences 打乱的句子Transformation drills 变换句型Dialogues 对话

Reflecting on the task:

Present a report on how they did the task and what they decided or discovered – oral or written

Summary the outcome of the taskReflect or evaluate of their own performance (fluenc

y, accuracy)Metacognitive strategies 元认知策略 (planning, mo

nitoring and adjusting)

6.Do we have any difficulty in carrying out TBLT in the Chinese context? Disadvantages

a. Beginning with production, TBLT might weaken the input and language form practice.

b. It is very difficult for the designers to select, grade and sequence the tasks scientifically.

c. It neglects the differences between different cultures.

TBLT places a high demand on the teachers and

classroom conditions (the teachers’ English

proficiency; the big size of the class; the limited

class time; the lack of language situation; the test-

oriented language learning; the assessment system).

7 . What’s our proper attitude toward TBLT?

We’d better acquire a compromise viewpoint. An eclectic method can be more workable and practical in the Chinese context. We should adapt TBLT to our concrete conditions. We cannot copy it mechanically. TBLT is not the only feasible way for the foreign language teaching in our country.

教学有法，但无定法！！！

DiscussionDiscussion

The similarities and differences between

TBLT and CLT.