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spyro25
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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 Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject: Tasked Based Learning and Teaching? |
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| For anyone out there doing TBLT, how does it work in your context? Do you feel that it is possible in the Korean classroom? How do you keep coming up with useful tasks every day? I've studied TBLT for 5 weeks now and I still don't find it particularly enforceable in class and I always struggle to come with new tasks. Got any tips? |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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| There are task based coursebooks. Have a look at whatever was created by David Nunan, one of the leading experts in the ESL/EFL field, and a big supporter of the task-based approach. |
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gsxr750r
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Just make sure they're using the proper grammar. It's great to get students to talk, but proper grammar should be noted often. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:57 am Post subject: |
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Here's a good video on the subject. Andrew Finch has been studying how to enact and use task based instruction in Korean classrooms for many years. He says some great things.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/69a71548-ce85-4bae-8774-f4632dd7f177/integrated-lessons
I just showed it in one of my workshops to new teachers, starting this public school year. I think it highlights how foreign teachers should be quiet agents of change and also how task based instruction is not anthema or against the curriculum standards or designs of Korean society. See the Korean institute for curriculum and evaluation for a full description of the core thrust of education and the teacher's role in the classroom. In particular, Honik ingang - the development of the whole person. www.kice.re.kr/kice/eng/research3/research3_2002_2.jsp
That so many teachers think that tasked based instruction is unable to prepare students both for life and a test, is just something wrong and should be changed, slowly and steadily. We are part of that change.
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| Just make sure they're using the proper grammar. It's great to get students to talk, but proper grammar should be noted often. |
I have to disagree with this. Communication is the key and a focus on grammar at this stage and when undertaking task based instruction, is just throwing water on the fire. It is a no no and correction should be done outside the task and students should be encouraged to speak with errors, so long as communication entails. If a teacher does correct, it should be passively through indirect rephrasing and not "making sure they are using proper grammar". That isn't the focus at all (correctly so) in tasked based instruction.
DD |
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EFLtrainer
Joined: 04 May 2005
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:51 am Post subject: |
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| ddeubel wrote: |
I have to disagree with this. Communication is the key and a focus on grammar at this stage and when undertaking task based instruction, is just throwing water on the fire. It is a no no and correction should be done outside the task and students should be encouraged to speak with errors, so long as communication entails. If a teacher does correct, it should be passively through indirect rephrasing and not "making sure they are using proper grammar". That isn't the focus at all (correctly so) in tasked based instruction.
DD |
Beat me to it. |
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lover.asian
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:22 am Post subject: |
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| ... I have to disagree with this. Communication is the key and a focus on grammar at this stage and when undertaking task based instruction, is just throwing water on the fire. It is a no no and correction should be done outside the task and students should be encouraged to speak with errors, so long as communication entails. If a teacher does correct, it should be passively through indirect rephrasing and not "making sure they are using proper grammar". That isn't the focus at all (correctly so) in tasked based instruction. |
Well stated. |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:50 am Post subject: |
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As long as the tasks aren't very big and there is classroom follow-up for all groups then I think task based learning is a good idea in Korea. I use it quite often in elementary school and it works quite well.
If there is no time for a follow-up or discussion then it is ineffectual at best. I wouldn't recommend task based learning for most teachers. Definitely not something that most students are used to. But more importantly, students - both high school and junior high school - don't have the luxury and therefore it's not a good idea.
Sody |
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Woland
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:02 am Post subject: |
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| ddeubel wrote: |
| I have to disagree with this. Communication is the key and a focus on grammar at this stage and when undertaking task based instruction, is just throwing water on the fire. It is a no no and correction should be done outside the task and students should be encouraged to speak with errors, so long as communication entails. If a teacher does correct, it should be passively through indirect rephrasing and not "making sure they are using proper grammar". That isn't the focus at all (correctly so) in tasked based instruction. |
Fourthed, with one minor addition.
We can make attention to accuracy a task demand and ask students to act on it in their performance. It doesn't mean that we correct on the spot, but rather that students attend to their grammatical performance in carrying out the task. Of course, the task has to be designed for it to be manageable for them to do this while still completing the meaningful aspect of the task. |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:40 am Post subject: |
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gsxr750r
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:56 am Post subject: |
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I'm not saying you stop the students from speaking just because they can't form a perfect sentence -- correct it later, of course.
If you didn't get to see Professor Rod Ellis from the University Auckland at the conference in Busan last year, who spoke on task-based learning, then I suggest you take some time and review his sample lesson. There is a video link somewhere.
Trying to apply the tasked-based method without giving students guidance (yes, it is important to teach correct grammar along with it) at some point, will eventually yield students who can confidently speak gibberish.
Here's something to ponder -- some would argue that task-based learning is merely the latest "recently discovered" whiz-bang method/catchy book-selling label slapped on ONE ASPECT of good teaching that's been around for years. Sure makes for interesting journal reading and books, though!
Now please feel free to flame away, pick apart my writing style, find a misspelling, a grammar error, or whatever. I'm drunk, typing fast without wearing a seatbelt, and really don't care. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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gsxr750r wrote
I'm not saying you stop the students from speaking just because they can't form a perfect sentence -- correct it later, of course. |
I think we agree then. My post wasn't meant as an affront. I thought that as stated, your statement wasn't true and needed some clarification. you clarified and I agree.
I won't get into the benefits and drawbacks of language methods. I find that a tiring and very unfulfilling academic game. It is not the method that is key but rather teaching "the students". Also, you have to consider your own philosophy (in particular feelings on classroom management and process), personality, teaching style and environment when considering the method to be used. These are only some of the main variables to consider.
So a method is not a magic pill. So neither is task based instruction. But key to any successful "language" classroom (and it is quite different for other subjects) is that the students are allowed time and possibility to discover language, to put the pieces together. They have to be given the classroom environment that stretches them just out of reach (that proximal zone of development, bridging whatever you want to call it), so they are taking what they know and adding to it. Their fly paper is working, so to speak. That is the teacher's job, to set things up with whatever method so that this process of discover is enacted. It is inductive in method, that is the only method.
Grammar based instruction is for the most part deductive. It provides a proven foundation and little discover, on the own part of the student. This is where it fails to provide a communicatively competent learner. But error correction should be part of all instruction, regardless of the method. Just done differently, given the setting. But in task based instruction, only major errors need be addressed after the lesson and the teacher should note these repetitive mistakes and address appropriately.
The trouble in Korea is that kids don't produce enough language. Once you get the clog out of the drain, then it might be appropriate to start looking at how the water should flow through the system, how the communication should be standardized. But here, they put these things in the wrong order. Otherwise you are just creating more of a clog.
I think task based instruction along with a few other methods is one of the few methods that really addresses the issue of "power" and gives students control and makes them a self learner. For most students it works if done correctly but for some, they need a sharp whip and those students would succeed better with another method. So it depends...................that is the beauty of teaching English, it is an art not a science.
I think Woland is correct when he says we should require "accuracy" (much better word than "no errors" or "grammatically correct") and all task based learning should have the proper lesson plan objective of one or two language structures, example: The students will learn how to ask for items in a restaurant using the phrase, "I would like........" and "I'll have ..." . The teacher would then insist on the accuracy of these language structures during the task based activity.
Sorry for the long post, my mind just wanders.....and I will find and post a link to Ellis' paper on task based instruction, that you mentioned. Have it somewhere.
DD |
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JeJuJitsu
Joined: 11 Sep 2005
Location: McDonald's
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| gsxr750r wrote: |
| some would argue that task-based learning is merely the latest "recently discovered" whiz-bang method/catchy book-selling label slapped on ONE ASPECT of good teaching that's been around for years. |
Yup. Most Education jargon is simply giving names to various combinations of: 1) teaching personality/style 2) content 3) goals. |
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