Developing speaking skills through task-based learning in English as a foreign language classroom

Abstract

When it comes to communication, speaking is a popular way to express oneself. The continuous experience of researchers involved in this study has shown that most students are unsuccessful or face problems with speaking skills. They encountered difficulties communicating themselves effectively and efficiently or even communicating in simple day-to-day English. This emphasizes the need for the active participation of learners in the process of learning. One such learner-centric and learning-centric method is Task-Based Language Teaching, which requires students to finish tasks that are significant to them as a part of the learning process. Learning through tasks emphasizes the utilization of language for the sake of meaningful communication. A communication method called task-based language teaching (TBLT) has been extensively used in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. It has been demonstrated to be of considerable use in enhancing the communication abilities of students receiving instruction. Trying to understand better how tasks influence students’ desire to speak English and their spoken engagement with one another in the classroom, this research set out to answer these questions. The sample size of participants in the study included ninety adolescents who were students at Parul University. Their feedback indicated that the tasks were beneficial, both in terms of increasing their oral interaction in English and their enthusiasm to speak English in class.