A Study Of The Application Of Task-based Instruction In Junior English Teaching In China

Task-based Instruction is a popular school of linguistic teaching and learning theory in west countries in 1980s. It aims at providing opportunities for the learners to experiment with and explore both spoken and written language through learning activities which are designed to engage learners in the authentic, practical and functional use of language for meaningful purposes instead of for formal purposes. Students are in an active psychological state while implementing the tasks in class. The communicative course between the participants is an interactive cooperation and it embodies the modern education theory of student-centered and teacher-guided. The Task-based Instruction aims at fostering the students' comprehensive language competence, making students transform the knowledge and language skills they have learned by implementing the tasks in class into the abilities of using English freely in real life. It emphasizes the course of language use and embodies the nature of language communication. The application of Task-based Instruction in junior English teaching in China breaks the traditional teaching mode in which grammar teaching isolates the practical use of it and the language form isolates its meaning. It pays more attention to the function of the knowledge system of language, and probes into the way of study and use of language. And it also bridges the gap between the native language and target language of the learner and it pours vigor into the junior English teaching in China.This paper states the definition, background and theoretical foundation of Task-based Instruction in detail. According to the requirements of New Criteria for English Course in Middle School, on the basis of analysis of present situation of junior English teaching in China, with care of the real situation of Junior English Teaching in China and self experience of teaching , theories combined with practice, the procedures of implementing Task-based Instruction in Junior English Teaching in China are discussed and the practical model of Task-based Instruction in Junior English Teaching in China is explored in this thesis. A empirical research conducted in Junior English Teaching in China is stated in detail in the paper, and the research purpose , methods, materials, procedures and period are stated and the results of the research are analyzed and discussed in detail. It concludes that the model of Task-based Instruction is feasible and effective in junior middle school English classrooms. The last chapter presents the reasons that led to success for the research and some problems and difficulties met with. Meanwhile, it probes into the factors that restrict the localization of Task-based Instruction in English teaching in China in the future.