TBLT Materials Development as an Instance of Action Research Michael Foster Department of French University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign September 14, 2009 Contact:

I. Introduction General Overview of Task Development General Overview of Task Development 1) Nunan (2004): Developing units of work 1) Nunan (2004): Developing units of work 1) Schema Building 2) Controlled Practice 3) Authentic listening practice 4) Focus on linguistic elements 5) Provide freer practice 6) Introduce the pedagogical task

Introduction (contd) 2) Ellis (2003) discusses Estaire and Zanón (1994)s guidelines for planning units 2) Ellis (2003) discusses Estaire and Zanón (1994)s guidelines for planning units 1) Determining the theme 2) Planning the final task 3) Determining the unit objectives 4) Specifying contents to execute task 5) Planning and sequencing task components 6) Plan the task evaluation procedures

II. Class Description Listening and Oral Comprehension (LOC) Class at the Intensive English Institute (IEI) at UIUC: Spring 2008 Listening and Oral Comprehension (LOC) Class at the Intensive English Institute (IEI) at UIUC: Spring 2008 Level 4: Next to lowest level at the IEI Level 4: Next to lowest level at the IEI 10 students total (8 Korean, 2 Taiwanese) 10 students total (8 Korean, 2 Taiwanese) LOC is Student-Centered LOC is Student-Centered * Students interests are considered when choosing tasks and topics LOC is Practical LOC is Practical * Main task of a unit closely approximates real-life task

III. TBLT Materials Development in LOC Class Overview of Unit: Movies and Movie Trailers Overview of Unit: Movies and Movie Trailers Unit goals included: Unit goals included: Discuss movies and trailers using descriptive adjectives Discuss movies and trailers using descriptive adjectives Express ones own likes and dislikes Express ones own likes and dislikes Giving ones opinion and defending ones opinion Giving ones opinion and defending ones opinion Main Task: Main Task: Students created and recorded an audio movie critique of a full-length movie that they watched. Students also responded to critiques created by their classmates. Students created and recorded an audio movie critique of a full-length movie that they watched. Students also responded to critiques created by their classmates. The unit was taught during four class periods, two of which were 50 minutes and then two which were one hour and 50 minutes The unit was taught during four class periods, two of which were 50 minutes and then two which were one hour and 50 minutes

IV. Examples of TBLT Materials: First Iteration Unit activity: What to think about when creating a Movie Critique (See hand-out) Unit activity: What to think about when creating a Movie Critique (See hand-out) Example 1: Lets See How Much You Already Know Example 1: Lets See How Much You Already Know Example 2: Emotions Example 2: Emotions Example 3: Camera Shots (The Cinematography) Example 3: Camera Shots (The Cinematography)

V. Peer Observations from Teaching the First Iteration Day 1: 04/08/08: Semantic Mapping Day 1: 04/08/08: Semantic Mapping Students have difficulties thinking of related topics (due to lower level?) Students have difficulties thinking of related topics (due to lower level?) Teacher keeps suggesting things to students for the tree (See Example #1: First Iteration on hand-out) Teacher keeps suggesting things to students for the tree (See Example #1: First Iteration on hand-out) Day 2: 04/09/08: Emotions Day 2: 04/09/08: Emotions Students not really talking Students not really talking Better/easier example for iteration #2? Better/easier example for iteration #2? Easier questions? Easier questions? (See Example #2: First Iteration and Second Iteration on hand-out)

Peer Observations (contd) Day 4: 04/14/08 Day 4: 04/14/08 Students ask instructor questions about task directions; some arent sure about individual work; ask for clarification Students ask instructor questions about task directions; some arent sure about individual work; ask for clarification

VI. Student Feedback on First Iteration Student evaluation sheet: Self-Check: WHAT DID I LEARN IN THIS UNIT What some students disliked and thought did not go well: I... Felt the speed was too fast Felt overwhelmed by amount of material Had difficulty absorbing the information because of the fast pace Had difficulty expressing my opinions after watching the movie-trailers

VII. TBLT Materials: Second Iteration: Incorporating Student Feedback General conclusions decided upon by group members when drafting second iteration of materials: General conclusions decided upon by group members when drafting second iteration of materials: Break up the innovation into smaller parts & focus on a specific part (i.e. group work) by preparing students with gradual questions More familiar video clips for good/bad acting Analysis of the language used in the classroom Think about changing the learning habits of students earlier in the semester

VIII. Conclusions 1) Learning how to re-write materials according to students interpretations of the first iteration 1) Learning how to re-write materials according to students interpretations of the first iteration 2) Triangulation of The Teacher/Material Designer with Theoretical Issues and Practical Issues 2) Triangulation of The Teacher/Material Designer with Theoretical Issues and Practical Issues Teacher needs to be aware of implementing Nunans (2004) steps of materials development and how students receive the materials once they are taught Teacher needs to be aware of implementing Nunans (2004) steps of materials development and how students receive the materials once they are taught

Conclusions (Contd) 3) Teachers must be open to re-writing materials based on student feedback to the first iteration 3) Teachers must be open to re-writing materials based on student feedback to the first iteration Contributes to the professionalization of language teachers Contributes to the professionalization of language teachers 4) Importance of collecting empirical evidence (i.e. feedback) of how the material was received by students 4) Importance of collecting empirical evidence (i.e. feedback) of how the material was received by students Justification of future development of TBLT materials Justification of future development of TBLT materials 5) Dissertation research will focus on TBLT in French; Conversation Analysis (CA) and Learning Talk Analysis (LTA) will show how students are orienting to the topic in the target language 5) Dissertation research will focus on TBLT in French; Conversation Analysis (CA) and Learning Talk Analysis (LTA) will show how students are orienting to the topic in the target language

IX. References Ellis, Rod. (2003). Task-based Language Learning and Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Ellis, Rod. (2003). Task-based Language Learning and Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Estaire, S. and J. Zanón. (1994). Planning Classwork: A Task Based Approach. Oxford: Heinemann. Estaire, S. and J. Zanón. (1994). Planning Classwork: A Task Based Approach. Oxford: Heinemann. Nunan, David. (2004). Task-Based Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Nunan, David. (2004). Task-Based Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.