ERIC Number: EJ1052881
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Mar
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-1688
EISSN: N/A
Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching: An Action-Research Study
Calvert, Megan; Sheen, Younghee
Language Teaching Research, v19 n2 p226-244 Mar 2015
The creation, implementation, and evaluation of language learning tasks remain a challenge for many teachers, especially those with limited experience with using tasks in their teaching. This action-research study reports on one teacher's experience of developing, implementing, critically reflecting on, and modifying a language learning task to better address the needs of her students in an adult refugee English program. Task evaluation involved a response-based comparison of student success in task completion and qualitative student-based results. The results noticeably improved after the task modification and the successful implementation of the modified task led to changes in how the teacher viewed task-based teaching. The study serves as an example of how teachers can create their own tasks and of the importance of evaluating them empirically. The article concludes with the importance of action research as a means by which language teachers can address problems that arise in task-based instruction.
Descriptors: Action Research, Teaching Methods, Task Analysis, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Refugees, English (Second Language), Student Needs, Qualitative Research, Teacher Attitudes, Attitude Change, Language Teachers, Adult Students, Difficulty Level, Familiarity, Teacher Role, Schemata (Cognition)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A