Published

2016-07-01

Implementing Task-Based Language Teaching to Integrate Language Skills in an EFL Program at a Colombian University

Implementación de la enseñanza de lenguas mediante tareas para integrar las habilidades lingüísticas de estudiantes en un programa de inglés como lengua extranjera de una universidad colombiana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v18n2.49754

Keywords:

Integration, language skills, task and communicative competence, task-based language teaching (en)
enseñanza de lengua basada en tareas, habilidades del lenguaje, integración, tareas y competencias comunicativas (es)

Downloads

Authors

  • Eulices Córdoba Zúñiga University of Amazonia
This article reports the findings of a qualitative research study conducted with six first semester students of an English as a foreign language program in a public university in Colombia. The aim of the study was to implement task-based language teaching as a way to integrate language skills and help learners to improve their communicative competence in English. The results suggest that the implementation of task-based language teaching facilitated the integration of the four skills in the English as a foreign language context. Furthermore, tasks were meaningful and integrated different reading, writing, listening, and speaking exercises that enhanced students’ communicative competences and interaction. It can be concluded that task-based language teaching is a good approach to be used in the promotion of skills integration and language competences.
Este artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación cualitativa llevada a cabo con seis estudiantes de primer semestre de un programa de enseñanza de inglés como idioma extranjero en una universidad pública colombiana. El objetivo del estudio fue implementar la enseñanza de idiomas basada en tareas como una manera para integrar las habilidades del idioma extranjero y ayudar a los estudiantes a mejorar sus competencias comunicativas. Los resultados sugieren que este enfoque ayudó a integrar las cuatro habilidades de la lengua. Las tareas eran significativas y combinaban diferentes ejercicios en cada habilidad, los cuales mejoraron la comunicación y la interacción entre los estudiantes. En conclusión, la enseñanza de idiomas basadas en tareas facilita la integración de las habilidades lingüísticas.

References

Barnard, R., & Viet, N. G. (2010). Task-based language teaching (TBLT): A Vietnamese case study using narrative frames to elicit teachers’ beliefs. Language Education in Asia, 1(1), 77-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.5746/LEiA/10/V1/A07/Barnard_Nguyen.

Baturay, M. H., & Akar, N. (2007). A new perspective for the integration of skills to reading. Dil Dergisi, 136, 16-27.

Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative case study methodology: Study design and implementation for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, 13(4), 544-559.

Belisle, T. (1999). Peer coaching: Partnership for professional practitioners. The ACIE Newsletter, 2(3), 3-5.

Carless, D. (2007). Learning-oriented assessment: Conceptual bases and practical implications. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 44(1), 57-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14703290601081332.

Chuan, Y.-Y. (2010). Implementing task-based approach to teach and assess oral proficiency in the college EFL classroom. Taipei, TW: Cosmos Culture.

Council of Europe (2008). Common European framework of references for languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Crookes, G., & Gass, S. M. (Eds.). (1993). Tasks in pedagogical context: Integrating theory and practice. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.

Cuesta, M. R. (1995). A task-based approach to language teaching: The case for task-based grammar activities. Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses, 8, 91-100.

Dickinson, P. (2010). Implementing TBLT in a Japanese EFL context: An investigation into language methodology (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Ellis, R. (2006). The methodology of task-based teaching. Kansai Magazine, 5(2), 1-25 Retrieved from https://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/fl/publication/pdf_education/04/5rodellis.pdf.

Ellis, R. (2009). Task-based language learning and teaching. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Ellis, R. (2014). Taking the critics to task: The case for taskbased teaching. Proceedings of the Sixth CLS International Conference clasic 2014, Singapore, 103-117.

Estaire, S. & Zanon, J. (1994). Planning classwork: A task based approach. Oxford, UK: Heinemann.

Freeman, D. (1996). Doing teacher research: From inquiry to understanding. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.

Gatbonton, E., & Gu, G. (1994). Preparing and implementing a task-based esl curriculum in an EFL setting: Implications for theory and practice. TESL Canada Journal, 11(2), 9-29.

Hinkel, E. (n.d.). Integrating the four skills: Current and historical perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.elihinkel.org/downloads/Integrating_the_four_skills.pdf.

Hu, R. (2013). Task-based language teaching: Responses from Chinese teachers of English. The Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language, 16(4), 1-21.

Hyde, C. (2013). Task-based language teaching in the business English classroom (Master’s thesis). University of Wisconsin, USA.

Izadpanah, S. (2010). A study on task-based language teaching: From theory to practice. Journal of US-China Foreign Language, 8(3), 47-56. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.463.7099&rep=rep1&type=pdf.

Jacobson, M., Pruitt-Chapin, K., & Rugeley, C. (2009). Toward reconstructing poverty knowledge: Addressing food insecurity through grassroots research design and implementation. Journal of Poverty, 13(1), 1-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10875540802623260.

Junker, B. H. (1960). Field work: An introduction to the social sciences. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Kurniasih, E. (2011). Teaching the four language skills in primary EFL classroom: Some considerations. Journal of English Teaching, 5(2), 24-35.

Laforest, J. (2009). Safety diagnosis tool kit for local communities: Guide to organizing semi-structured interviews with key informants. Québec, CA: Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec.

Lee, J. F. (2000). Tasks and communicating in language classrooms. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Li, M.-S. (1998). English literature teaching in China: Flowers and thorns. The Weaver: A Forum for New Ideas in Education, 2.

Littlewood, W. (2004). The task-based approach: Some questions and suggestions. ELT Journal, 58(4), 319-326. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/elt/58.4.319.

Long, M. H. (1985). A role for instruction in second language acquisition: Task-based language training. In K. Hylstenstam & M. Pienemann (Eds.), Modelling and assessing second language acquisition (pp. 77-99). Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.

Lynch, T. (2001). Seeing what they meant: Transcribing as a route to noticing. ELT Journal, 55(2), 124-132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/elt/55.2.124.

Numrich, C. (1996). On becoming a language teacher: Insights from diary studies. TESOL Quarterly, 30(1), 131-153. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3587610.

Nunan, D. (1999). Language teaching methodology: A textbook for teachers. Hemel Hempstead, UK: Prentice Hall.

Nunan, D. (2004). Task-based language teaching. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667336.

Nunan, D. (2005). Classroom research. In E. Hinkel (Ed.), Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (pp. 225-240). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Prabhu, N. S. (1987). Second language pedagogy. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Rahimpour, M., & Magsoudpour, M. (2011). Teacher-students’ interactions in task-based vs form-focused instruction. World Journal of Education, 1(1), 171-178. http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/wje.v1n1p171.

Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2001). Approaches and methods in language teaching. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667305.

Seedhouse, P. (1999). Task-based interaction. ELT Journal, 53(3), 149-156. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/elt/53.3.149.

Skehan, P. (1996). A framework for the implementation of task based instruction. Applied Linguistic, 17(1), 38-62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/applin/17.1.38.

Skehan, P. (1998). Task-based instruction. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 18, 268-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0267190500003585.

Wajnryb, R. (1992). Classroom observation tasks: A resource book for language teachers and trainers. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Wallace, T., Stariha, W. E., & Walberg, H. J. (2004). Teaching speaking, listening and writing. Brussels, BE: International Academy of Education.

Willis, J. (1996). A framework for task-based learning. London, UK: Longman.

Xiongyong, C., & Samuel, M. (2011). Perceptions and implementation of task-based language teaching among secondary school EFL teachers in China. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(24), 292-302.

Yin, R. K. (1984). Case study research: Design and methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Dimensions

PlumX

Article abstract page views

6822

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

How to Cite

Córdoba Zúñiga, E. (2016). Implementing Task-Based Language Teaching to Integrate Language Skills in an EFL Program at a Colombian University. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 18(2), 13-27. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v18n2.49754