The Application Of Task-Based Learning In English Teaching Of Primary School

Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) was introduced to China at the turn of the century. It has been verified that TBLT plays an important part in arousing students’ interests, developing their capabilities and enhancing their comprehensive qualities. However, in China, TBLT, which is in the experimental stage, has not been practiced in the classroom successfully. Although reading comprehension in China has been placed in a dominant position, no remarkable success has been achieved, especially in primary school English teaching and learning. Therefore English teachers should take a positive attitude towards TBLT and make great efforts to improve English language teaching and learning and to enhance its efficiency by flexibly adopting the task-based approach.The author starts this research to find a better way to improve the efficiency of teaching English in primary schools. In English teaching, most teachers have been using traditional teaching methods, but the New Curriculum emphasizes that language learning is based on tasks. Task-based teaching is the teaching approach which matches with the new curriculum ideas. For this reason, the author chose this subject to start the research. The author believes that through the study it can play a certain role in promoting English learning and English teaching.The research tentatively proposes some English learning instructional methods based on Task-based Language Teaching theory in a primary school in Tianjin. The whole experiment lasted ten months. The experimental class received the task-based language teaching method of learning while the control class was taught with the traditional method. The data collection includes the following techniques: questionnaires, interviews, pre-test and post-test.The thesis consists of six chapters:Chapter1is an introduction to the background, significance and the purpose of task-based language teaching; Chapter2serves as an overview of previous studies on task-based language teaching and application of task-based language teaching in English class. Chapter3serves as an introduction of some theories; Chapter4serves as a description of the research methodology, which includes hypothesis, subjects, and research instruments, implementation of task-based language teaching in English class in primary school. Data analysis and discussion are given in Chapter5. Chapter6is the description of the conclusions and limitation of this research. Implications for further research are also discussed in this Chapter.The following is a summary of the findings of the study:First of all, Task-based Language Teaching can increase students’ interests in learning English. Next, students in the experimental class are more motivated than those students in the control class. Task-based Language Teaching can promote students’ participation in English class. Furthermore, students’ attitudes toward TBLT are positive. The last and the most important, in contrast with the traditional teaching methods, Task-based Language Teaching methods proves to be effective in improving students’ English learning achievemeres.