international conference on english for specific purposes (esp) and new language technologies:...

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES (ESP) AND

NEW LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGIES:SYNERGIES OF LANGUAGE LEARNING

UNIVERSITY OF NIŠ, SERBIAMAY, 22TH - 24TH, 2015.

“DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE

COMPETENCE THROUGH TASK-BASED APPROACH IN HIGHER EDUCATION”

Nalan Kennynalankenny@outlook.com

ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE?

(ESP)

WHAT IS

a broad-diverse field of English language teaching

specifically based on

learner needs or English in specific professional areas

ESP

Quick history

The start

1960

Special language and register

1987

Approach to language teaching

1988

Meet the specified needs of learner

1998

Underlying methodology and activities of discipline

2001

Modify target context arrangements

2007

Concerned with communicative practices

Competence

CommunicaTive

The ability to transfer information with the

correct language function in a sociocultural environment

4communicative Competence

Components of

Linguistic competence

Discourse Competence

Strategic Competence

Sociolinguistic competence

What is a ‘task’?

A piece of work

An activity or an action

An activity

A range of workplans

An activity

A piece of classroom work

Long, 1985

Richards et al,

1986

Prahbu, 1987

Breen 1987

Willis, 2002

Nunan, 2004

A Task is an activity which is carried out in the classroom by

students practising the target

language interactively. It

promotes their confidence in use of language.

TASK BASED APROACH

• Engages learner.

• Enables to use language freely

• Develops learner’s communicative

competence

Equipment Safety rules Blast furnaceFaults

Expressing and purposeInstructionsDescribing a systemReporting faults

Tasks Topics

For example: Safety RulesDivide the class into groups of 4

Give each group one cardboard and felt tip pen

Give one copy of a workshop picture

Ask the students to write down as many rules as they can remember

NeedsCardboardFelt tip pensWorkshop picture

Teacher will monitor them.

Teacher will guide them.

Teacher will/may help the vocabulary

they struggle

Teacher will give feedback

Teacher’s Role

Students will use the target language freely.

They won’t feel under pressure.

Each member of the group will contribute to

the task.

Students will engage with the task

Student’s Role

Pre taskIntroduction to topic and task Brainstorming, exchange ideasensure learners understand the task instructionsput learners in appropriate setting plan (pairwork, group work)learners perform the taskgive feedback

TASK TYPES• Gap Filling• Pair Work • Group Work• Presentations • Discussions• Asking Questions• Problem Solving

Group work

High achieverIndividual feels accepted and contributed to the taskExchange ideas and opinionsIncrease learners’ participationMaximize learners’ interaction

Presentations

Improves communication skillsgives confidenceImproves how learners use language effectively and accuratelyMakes learners confident speaker and

Classroom Settings

Wright, 1987

Wide range of possible settings in the

classrooms

Vary accordingly

Affect the dynamic of the lesson

Assessment

Observation during the taskTicking boxes Asking questionsStudents’ self assessmentQuizzes

motivated interact with each other betteruse the linguistic function of the language beside social and discourse functionpresentations are good examples for university students

conclusion

Thank you for listening

Topics 

Tasks Grammar Vocabulary

Activity

Equipment Describe and purpose

To be for Ving Tools Individual/Role play 

Safety Rules in a workshop

Instructions (positive and negative)

DoDon’t Verb¹ Should + Verb¹

Health/safety related words such as keep, tidy, untidy, mess

Making warning signs.Find the faults in the picture.(Working in small groups) 

Faults Reporting faults over the phone/ face to face etc.

Direct/Indirect Speech

Faults related words such as broken, damaged, cracked etc. 

Group discussions.Small Talk.Role Play

Blast Furnace (iron and steel factory) orElectricity

Describing a process/system

Active/Passive voice

Iron/steel related words such as slab, overload, melt etc. 

Presentation(it can be individual or small group)

2013 Mechanical Engineering and Food Technology, Lithuania

effectivegood at delivering communication skills

language use was measured in four skillsstudents were given a task to make presentations