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Date Posted: 05:09:00 07/02/03 Wed
Author: Aparecida dos Santos Silva
Subject: TASK 9

UFMG 2003-07-02
COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH
Teacher:Vera Menezes
Student:Aparecida dos Santos Silva

1.Describe what Task-based approach is. Describe its main characteristic.

It was N Prabhu who popularised the idea of Task-based learning or TBL when he worked with schools in Bangalore. Instead of teaching a language structure he presented tasks for them to perform. That what Task-based learning is students working on a specific task or bringing a situation into class to discuss it - this is contextualization. While students are carrying out the activites, in pairs or in groups, the teacher monitor from a distance.

Willis (1992;52) proposes a task cycle for Task based learning which consists of: Pre-task: introduction to topic and task; Task cycle - task planning report and Language Focus – analysis practice.

It is a very interesting approach because students will be faced to similar conditions to those present in their first language (Krashen’s therory), that is based on meaning.

There are critics on TBL concerning its applicability because it may not be suitable for beginners or young learners. I think it is possible to introduce TBL on our teaching independent of level or age group. I have already done it several times.

For example, once I went to the supermarket with three adult students. I gave them a real shopping list. My pre-task activity was to name the sections, so that they could find the products. On the way to the supermarket, one student was driving and the other two had to give directions, if the information was wrong the driver followed their instructions until they informed the right way. After shopping, we went to a “pastelaria” and they had to explain the menu to me. It was a wonderful experience.

There are several other types of TBL activities. I have a domino with math expressions, to solve it is necessary to multiply, divide, etc.. It is very interesting.

Another example of activity for young kids might be to do a Candy shop where they will have to sell the candies to other students and use real money. It really works.

So, Task based activities are possible in any learning environment and promotes natural learning , it only depends on teacher’s criativity.


Bibliography:
Hamer, J. The Practice of English Language Teaching, Essex: L Longman 2001.
Crandall, J. Content-Centered Language Learning (on internet)
Task-based learning – The Nonstop Magazine

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