State University of Telecommunications :: Study in Ukraine

Phone:
+38 (044) 249-25-91

Task-Based Learning as one of the Popular Teaching Methods

13:17, 02-02-2022

It is one of 5 Popular ESL Teaching Methods. It is a modern popular approach with the teacher as a mere learning facilitator. By asking questions and solving problems, student motivation and participation in tasks and projects are thought to increase rapidly and efficiently in a language learning.

Why is this teaching method productive and important?

While task-based learning is used, students, solving tasks that are relevant and interesting to them, use the target language they’re learning to communicate with their peers. It means that they use authentic language instead of answering grammar or vocabulary questions about the language. Students don’t actually feel that they’re studying a language at that moment because they’re engrossed in the task they’re working on.

Task-based learning language in a group or in pairs is also a very important contributor to effective retention. Such type of activity and becoming confident with the language within a group or in a pair is a key step in acquiring the language skills. Their confidence and motivation to learn and to communicate with others also increase as they receive positive feedback from peers and teachers.

As the realistic context in which they’re learning the language is relevant to their personal lives, the understanding of the language also deepens.

In addition to the benefits for students, solid knowledge acquired with the help of this method will also increase their job and career prospects in the future.

What is the task-based method?

The task-based teaching approach is one of many modern ESL teaching methods and focuses on setting a goal for students — this could be a report, a video, or a presentation — and then following three main steps to achieve that goal.

1. The pre-task

During this stage, which can take up a whole lesson if needed, the teacher introduces the task to the students and gets them motivated to solve it. Once everyone is engaged, the teacher should explain what is expected for the task.

Verbal explanations can be supported by an example from the teacher or by showing a previous student’s work. The teacher can then give further instructions if needed and offer advice on how to approach the task.

2. The task

This is the main stage of task-based learning, where students start working on the task, usually in groups or pairs. This stage is done in the target language so that students feel the need to use the language they want to learn in order to solve the task.

The teacher doesn’t usually join in the work process. Instead, he or she will monitor the students and offer hints if students really need support.

3. The review (or post-task)

Once the students have completed the task and have something to present, the review stage, also known as the post-task, starts.

It’s a good idea to let students evaluate each other’s work and only offer a teacher review of frequently-made errors during the task. Peer correction could be carried out in the form of comments, feedback discussions, or a checklist with additional room for free commentary.

The review stage offers students the opportunity to reflect on their work and analyze it in order to improve their skills for the future.
 

Prepared by Pavlo Prokopenko,  Senior Teacher of The English Language Department.

For those, who are looking for really high-quality educational institution

Fill in the form of the entrant

Don't you know why people choose State University of Telecommunications?

Its easy - here is 15 reasons:

  • State University of Telecommunications - only the relevant institution of higher education in the field of telecommunications, information technology and IT
  • Free Academy CCNA courses «CISCO»
  • Provides training for reserve officers
  • The University has a certified Ukraine Academy of Hewlett-Packard
  • The University is in the top 150 universities in Ukraine (according osvita.ua)
  • The highest salaries are graduates of our University - workers in the sphere of information technologies
  • International diploma
  • Developed and effective student government
  • University laboratories equipped with equipment Alcatel-Lucent, where students gain practical skills
  • Multi-colored and rich student life
  • Provides training professionals most promising areas of IT technologies telecommunications, data protection, management and entrepreneurship
  • High levels of personnel and material support
  • The ability to study part-time and distance learning
  • The ability to simultaneously acquire two degrees from the University
  • Providing students with hostels

Our partners