LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:8 August 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Task Based Language Teaching To Promote
Communicative Competence

Dr. V. Suntharesan, Ph.D. in Linguistics

Abstract

Since Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT) provides adequate exposure to language, students, are able to learn the language in an almost real life situation. The learning is student centered and leads to more interaction among students. It also focuses more on meaning than on the form of the language so that the students are able to communicate spontaneously in their day-to-day interactions. The objective of this study is to maintain that TBLT is remarkably effective in promoting communicative competence among students of ESL. To elicit data required for this study, 50 undergrads reading in the 3rd year in the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka were selected at random and divided into two groups, namely, Control Group and Experimental Group. Pretests and the end of classes post-tests based on different syllabuses were held to assess the students’ levels of language proficiency. Data was analyzed and results discussed.

Key Words: TBLT, Communicative Competence, Exposure, Tasks

Introduction

This article discusses Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT) approach which is used to develop students’ communicative competence.

TBLT has been popular since its introduction in the 1980s. Basically it reflects communicative teaching and learning. It refers to a type of language teaching which includes “tasks” as its prime units for designing and implementing second language instruction.

Language activities are intended to provide students with adequate practice for expressing meaning effectively and appropriately as social context requires so that the students’ communicative competence could be developed in a natural manner.

It has been observed that a major factor hindering students to achieve communicative competence is the lack of exposure to language. Hence the techniques to be discussed in this article are believed to overcome this problem by providing necessary exposure to students, particularly through real world experience.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

V. SUNTHARESAN, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer
English Language Teaching Center
University of Jaffna
Jaffna
Sri Lanka
suntharesan@yahoo.com
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