The Significance of Study on the task―based approach

Abstract：It is important to be sure that the change from the traditional teaching to task-based teaching ought to be got step by step on the basis of the research of the task-based approach.

Key words：task-based approach； English teaching； higher the significance

中图分类号：H319 文献标识码： A 文章编号：1672-1578（2013）06-0004-01

Since the reform and opening up in China， in order to prepare technology talents and personnel for social and economic growth， higher vocational education has gained huge support of the country. In recent years， higher vocational education has become an important part of the higher education of the country.

With the coming of 21st century and China’s interaction with the economic globalization， English is widely applied to every walk of life. It’s necessary for higher vocational students to master English， while on the other hand， in order to follow the trend of social development， it is important for teachers to explore a kind of efficient teaching mode.

In October， 2000， Educational Department issued The Basic Requirements of Higher Vocational College Education on English Course Teaching. This document clearly puts forward classroom teaching reform with emphasis on practic use of English and students’ individual development.

Despite the progress in recent years that has been made in English teaching in our country， ， some questions always remain out of all kinds of reasons. Among others， too much emphasis on what to learn leads to de-emphasis on how to learn. Often the teaching is dominated by teachers’ explanation of vocabulary and grammar. The language input is partially small. There is universal existence of single teaching mode and method in higher vocational English teaching， the traditional teaching mode of mere instillation. Every period， the teaching time occupies 70% even 90% of the total. The chance left for the students to take part in class activities and express their opinions is slim. The students just passively depend on the teachers and text books. They lack thoughts. In this way， it’s difficult for the students to develop comprehensive language ability of listening， speaking， reading and writing. It’s difficult for the students to enhance their thinking and their ability of analyzing and solving problems. Although some students have been learning English for several years， after graduation， they dare not communicate with others in English.

So how to improve teaching and the English level of higher vocational students is becoming more and more important for most teachers in higher vocational colleges.

Task-based approach is very much different from the traditional PPP teaching approach which includes presentation， practice and production. Task-based approach calls for the active and creative activities both on the teacher’ side and on the part of students. The teacher will have to organize all the students-involved activities to go on successfully.

The process of finishing a task is no more or less than the acquisition of knowledge. Students are supposed to gain knowledge naturally through interactive activities. In addition， this approach is also characterized by the dominant role of students in the classroom activities. They are the center of learning. The teacher will just help students to finish the specific activities. The task-based teaching will make students have more independence and creativity in English learning.

Task-based approach pays attention to language

communicative activities on the real settings. It has definite goal orientation. It advocates experience， practice， participation， communication and cooperation. It demands teacher to organize topics by using the teaching material， offer real language environment. Design tasks or activities for students and guide students to complete the language target. In addition， task-based language teaching approach has its own advantage. It emphasizes learning language by communication， leading real language material into learning environment. It concerns not only the language， but also the process of learning. It makes learners’ individual experience as the important factors of class learning. It combines language learning in class with the language activities in society. Just like English curriculum standard pointsing out “Activities should be focused on students’ life experience and interest， content and ways should be needed. It should help to learn English knowledge ， develop language skills， and improve communicative ability of the students.” Taskbased approach accords with teaching reform practice and fully develops students’ activity and creativity. It is beneficial to cultivate students’ cooperative learning spirit.

It is helpful to cultivate students’ competence of using the language comprehensively. Since task-based approach was put forward and carried out， it has won great attraction and obtained approval and support of teachers and students. It originated from its deep and wide theoretic basis. This theory offered wide background for Task-based teaching.

By the task-based approach， students can think and communicate more in a free， easy and harmonious environment in which students will have more interest and enthusiasm to learn and practice the knowledge they have learned. Teachers ought to ask students to express their ideas by applying the learnt knowledge into active and creative mutual communication as well as team cooperation. Students can get more about the usage of language during the process of communication. At the same time， cooperation can improve students' communicative skills， and the students can benefit a lot from it in the future.

Bibliography：

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[2]Eills， R. Second Language Acquisition[J].Shanghai： Shanghai Education Press， 2003，96.

[3]Foster， P&Skehan，P.Task type and task processing conditions as influences on foreign language performance[J].Language Teaching Research， 1996. 113：1-27.