Tasked-Based Language Learning Week 5 Tasked-Based Language Learning

Tasks Goal oriented. Meaning is the main focus of the task. Langauge forms are of secondary importance.

Nunan's Task Types Real world tasks Pedagogic tasks

Benefits of Tasks They produce lots of interaction between students. They offer lots of input for students. They may offer better opportunities for incidental acquisition of new language. (Students learn language by using it, not be explicitly studying it.) They are meaning based, not grammar based. (Do you remember how languages are learned?)

Benefits of Tasks Students may use whatever language they like. They focus on fluency and accuracy. In Willis' concept of tasks, part of the task cycle is meaning based (discussion), and part is accuracy based (planning and language focus.

Drawbacks of Task Based Teaching In current educational environments, they are sometimes difficult to implement. It may difficult for teachers to design an entire syllabus around tasks. It may be difficult to teach new language while using tasks. Some reserchers think that tasks do not promote language used in general conversation, debates, or discussions.

Drawbacks of Tasks They may be time consuming. They might not offer the language that students need.