Research On The Implementation Of Task-Based Language Teaching In Extensive Reading Class For English Majors

Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), as a form of communicative language teaching, emerged in the 1980s. Over the past decades, there exists abundant research on task-based approach both in theory and practice. It is generally acknowledged that reading, as an input form of language learning, plays a crucial role in second and foreign language acquisition. However, learners of English still face various challenges in reading in the context of extensive reading class for English major in China. The current Extensive reading class for English major is still characterized by the adoption of sentence-by-sentence translation and explanation of grammar rules. English major students lack efficient reading skills or motivation to read. The failure of implementing efficient teaching method in Extensive reading class impacts students'reading competence.The study focuses on implementing TBLT in Extensive reading class for English majors. Based on various theories of task-based approach and the researcher's teaching experience, the experiment is well designed and carried out. The subjects chosen for the experiment are 58 second year English majors from English department at Xi'an International University. Class 1 is the experimental group with 30 students, in which TBLT is used. Class 2 is the control group with 28 students, in which traditional teaching method is adopted. The experiment consists of several parts: pre-test, questionnaire I for students from both groups, experimental teaching, post-test and questionnaireâ…¡for students of the experimental group. The data were collected and analyzed with the help of statistical software SPSS. The results of the research prove that, compared with the traditional method, TBLT is a more effective way to help students improve their reading competence and enhance their interest, confidence and motivation in reading. The study provides practical implications for the implementation of task-bask language teaching in extensive reading class for English majors.