IMPROVING STUDENTS’ ENGAGEMENT IN WRITING LESSONS FOR NON-ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS USING TASK-BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract: Writing skills have always been perceived as difficult for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in higher education. Studies (Vo, 2021; Huang, 2018; Zhang, 2016) have found that EFL students often commence tertiary education with an elementary level of English, which contributes to these challenges. In addition, a lack of confidence in writing results in demotivation in learning English. In line with recent empirical scholarship on EFL, Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) is proposed as an effective approach that facilitates both the teaching of communicative skills and engagement through the use of the target language and tasks in an authentic and context-sensitive manner for EFL. Specifically, this study critically explores how adapting such a teaching method can help teachers and students nurture and improve their writing skills in English. Drawing on a quasi-experimental design involving 60 learners, it examines the extent to which TBLT can help improve writing skills for non-English major students at a Vietnamese university. The findings indicate that the implementation of TBLT tasks in writing lessons resulted in significant improvements in students’ writing performance. The study discusses participants’ statements in the experiment to better understand the perceptions of the effectiveness of this pedagogical approach.
Article Details
Keywords
task-based language teaching, writing skills, tasks, written communicative competence
References
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Le, V. T. (2014). Factors affecting task-based language teaching from teachers’ perspectives. Study in English Language Teaching, 2(1), 108-122. https://doi.org/10.22158/selt.v2n1p108
Milarisa, S. (2019). The Effectiveness of Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT) toward ESP students’ writing achievement. English Language in Focus (ELIF), 1(2), 121-126. https://doi.org/10.24853/elif.1.2.121-126
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Na, C. D. (2017). Task-based language learning in Vietnam: Misunderstanding and Suggestions. Dalat University Journal of Science, 7(4), 587-600. https://doi.org/10.37569/dalatuniversity.7.4.303(2017)
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Nunan, D. (2006). Task-based language teaching in the Asia context: Defining 'task'. Asian EFL Journal, 8(3), 12-18.
Nunan, T. (1999). Exploring the concept of flexibility. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203991817-8/exploring-concept-flexibility-ted-nunan
Pham, V., & Do, T. (2022). The impacts of task-based instruction on students’ grammatical performances in speaking and writing skills: A quasi-experimental study. International Journal of Instruction, 14(2), 969-986. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2021.14255a
Richards, J. C., & Rogers, T. S. (2011). Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Salkind, N. J. (Ed.). (2010). Encyclopedia of research design (Vol. 1). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412961288
Silverman, D. (2016). Doing qualitative research. Sage.
Sullivan, P. J. (2000). Playfulness as mediation in communicative language teaching in Vietnamese classroom. In J. P. Lantolf (Ed.), Socio-cultural theory and second language learning (pp. 115-131). Oxford University Press.
Sundari, W. (2018). The difficulties of learning English for the beginner English learners. Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, Linguistic Studies, 2(1), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.14710/culturalistics.v2i1.2050
Tomlinson, B. (2011). Materials development in language teaching. Ernst Klett Sprachen.
Yen, P. H. (2016). Challenges of shifting to task-based language teaching: A story from a Vietnamese teacher. Can Tho University Journal of Science, 2(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.22144/ctu.jen.2016.002
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Vo, T. H. L. (2020). Task-based language teaching to meet learning outcomes. Journal of Foreign Language Studies, 63, 100-111.
Vygotsky, L. S., & Cole, M. (1978). Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Zhang, Y. (2016). English language challenges faced by Chinese EFL students in higher education. Asian EFL Journal, 18(2), 20-34.
Zhaochun, S. (2015). A tentative study on the Task-Based Teaching of ưriting to English majors in Chinese Settings. English Language Teaching, 8(3), 71-79. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1075224
Willis, J. (1996). A Framework for Task-Based Learning. Longman.
Willis, J., & Willis, D. (2013). Doing task-based teaching-Oxford handbooks for language teachers. Oxford University Press. https://tesl-ej.org/ej45/r6.html
Adams, R., & Newton, J. (2020). TBLT in Asia: Constraints and opportunities. Asian Journal of English Language Teaching. https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.12720848.v1
Angrist, J. D., & Lang, K. (2004). Does school integration generate peer effects? evidence from Boston’s Metco program. American Economic Review, 94(5), 1613-1634. https://doi.org/10.1257/0002828043052169
Bygate, M., Skehan, P., & Swain, M. (2013). Researching pedagogic tasks: Second language learning, teaching, and testing. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315838267
Cao, P. T. H. (2018). Task-based language teaching : Affordances and challenges in TBLT implementation at the Vietnamese tertiary level. The Journal of AsiaTEFL, 15(2), 510-515. https://doi.org/10.18823/asiatefl.2018.15.2.19.510
Cohen, L., Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2000). Research Methods in Education. Routledge Falmer, London. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203029053
Chenoweth, N. A., & Hayes, J. R. (2001). Fluency in writing: Generating text in L1 and L2. Written communication, 18(1), 80-98. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088301018001004
Coombe, C., Purmensky, K., & Davidson, P. J. (2012). Alternative assessment in language education. In C. Coombe, P. Davidson, B. O’Sullivan & S. Stoynoff (Eds.), The Cambridge guide to second language assessment (pp.147-155). Cambridge University Press.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publication.
Ellis, R. (2003). Task-based language learning and teaching. Oxford University Press.
Ellis, R. (2006). The Methodology of Task-based Teaching. Asian EFL Journal, 8(3), 19-45.
Ellis, R. (2009). Task‐based language teaching: Sorting out the misunderstandings. International journal of applied linguistics, 19(3), 221-246. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-4192.2009.00231.x
Ellis, R., & Shintani, N. (2013). Exploring language pedagogy through second language acquisition research. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203796580
Gebril, A. (2018). Integrated‐Skills Assessment. In The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching (pp. 1-7). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118784235.eelt0544
Gonzalez, L. E., & Pinzon, M. M. (2019). The impact of Task-based language teaching on learners’ writing skills. Indonesian EFL Journal, 5(2), 41-48. https://doi.org/10.25134/ieflj.v5i2.1820
Grabe, W., & Zhang, C. (2013). Reading and writing together: A critical component of English for academic purposes teaching and learning. Tesol Journal, 4(1), 9-24. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.65
Hall, G. (2011). Exploring English Language Teaching: Language in Action. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203827840
Hammond, J., & Gibbons, P. (2005). Putting scaffolding to work: The contribution of scaffolding in articulating ESL education. Prospect, 20(1), 6-25. http://hdl.handle.net/10453/6610
Harmer, J. (2011). The practice of English language teaching (4th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.
Hayes, J. R. (1996). A new framework for understanding cognition and affect in writing. In C. M. Levy, & S. Ransdell (Eds.), The Science of Writing: Theories, methods, individual differences and applications (pp. 1–27). Lawrence Erlbaum.
Hegarty, C. (2000). Writing English in context. Saddleback Educational Publishing.
Hiep, P. H. (2007). Communicative language teaching: Unity within diversity. ELT Journal, 61(3), 193-201. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccm026
Hoang, V. V. (2013). The current situation and issues of the teaching of English in Vietnam. Ritsumei. http://r-cube.ritsumei.ac.jp/bitstream/10367/4129/1/LCS_22_1pp7-18_HOANG.pdf
Hu, G. (2005). English language education in China: Policies, progress, and problems. Language policy, 4(1), 5-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-004-6561-7
Huang, H. (2018). Assessing English language proficiency of EFL students in Taiwanese universities. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 9(1), 145-152.
Humphrey, S. (2017). Academic literacies in the middle years: A framework for enhancing teacher knowledge and student achievement. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315625584
Humphrey, S. & Feez, S. (2016). Direct instruction fit for purpose: Applying a metalinguistic toolkit to enhance creative writing in the early secondary years. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 39(3), 207-219. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03651974
Kafipour, R., Mahmoudi, E. & Khojasteh, L. (2018). The effect of task-based language teaching on analytic writing in EFL classrooms. Cogent Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2018.1496627
Long, M. (2014). Second language acquisition and task-based language teaching. John Wiley & Sons.
Le, V. T. (2014). Factors affecting task-based language teaching from teachers’ perspectives. Study in English Language Teaching, 2(1), 108-122. https://doi.org/10.22158/selt.v2n1p108
Milarisa, S. (2019). The Effectiveness of Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT) toward ESP students’ writing achievement. English Language in Focus (ELIF), 1(2), 121-126. https://doi.org/10.24853/elif.1.2.121-126
Mills, G. E. (2014). Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED439152
Na, C. D. (2017). Task-based language learning in Vietnam: Misunderstanding and Suggestions. Dalat University Journal of Science, 7(4), 587-600. https://doi.org/10.37569/dalatuniversity.7.4.303(2017)
Nunan, D. (2004). Task-based language teaching. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511667336
Nunan, D. (2006). Task-based language teaching in the Asia context: Defining 'task'. Asian EFL Journal, 8(3), 12-18.
Nunan, T. (1999). Exploring the concept of flexibility. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203991817-8/exploring-concept-flexibility-ted-nunan
Pham, V., & Do, T. (2022). The impacts of task-based instruction on students’ grammatical performances in speaking and writing skills: A quasi-experimental study. International Journal of Instruction, 14(2), 969-986. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2021.14255a
Richards, J. C., & Rogers, T. S. (2011). Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Salkind, N. J. (Ed.). (2010). Encyclopedia of research design (Vol. 1). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412961288
Silverman, D. (2016). Doing qualitative research. Sage.
Sullivan, P. J. (2000). Playfulness as mediation in communicative language teaching in Vietnamese classroom. In J. P. Lantolf (Ed.), Socio-cultural theory and second language learning (pp. 115-131). Oxford University Press.
Sundari, W. (2018). The difficulties of learning English for the beginner English learners. Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, Linguistic Studies, 2(1), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.14710/culturalistics.v2i1.2050
Tomlinson, B. (2011). Materials development in language teaching. Ernst Klett Sprachen.
Yen, P. H. (2016). Challenges of shifting to task-based language teaching: A story from a Vietnamese teacher. Can Tho University Journal of Science, 2(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.22144/ctu.jen.2016.002
Vo, T. H. L. (2021). Online simulated workplace tasks to enhance business English learning. Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies, 29(3), 205-221. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABES-06-2020-0058.
Vo, T. H. L. (2020). Task-based language teaching to meet learning outcomes. Journal of Foreign Language Studies, 63, 100-111.
Vygotsky, L. S., & Cole, M. (1978). Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Zhang, Y. (2016). English language challenges faced by Chinese EFL students in higher education. Asian EFL Journal, 18(2), 20-34.
Zhaochun, S. (2015). A tentative study on the Task-Based Teaching of ưriting to English majors in Chinese Settings. English Language Teaching, 8(3), 71-79. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1075224
Willis, J. (1996). A Framework for Task-Based Learning. Longman.
Willis, J., & Willis, D. (2013). Doing task-based teaching-Oxford handbooks for language teachers. Oxford University Press. https://tesl-ej.org/ej45/r6.html