Earticle

This paper examines learner attitude toward task-based language learning and teaching in two different classes for middle school students. To compare the effectiveness of a form-focused task and a meaning-focused task in a task-based instruction context, this study measured a preliminary and a post English achievement tests, administrated a survey on the attitude towards their learning, and interviewed students, teaching assistants, and teachers. The results showed their different achievements and attitude levels between the form-focused task class and the meaning-focused task class over a period of three weeks. The form-focused task class increased students' language achievement score, but the students were less motivated than those in the meaning-focused task class. In contrast, the students in the meaning-focused task class were highly motivated by their task making a film and the skillful teacher who led them. Based on the results of the two different task-based classes, this paper discusses the factors that lead to a successful class with task-based learning and teaching. By exploring these elements, this paper suggests the educational implications for those who want to develop and implement a task-based language learning and teaching approach for middle school students.

With the emergence of sociolinguistic approach in second language learning, instructors have begun to acknowledge the native language (L1) as a legitimate tool with the potential to facilitate second language (L2) learning mainly in output-based tasks. This study focuses on how the use of L1 by L2 learners affects their task achievement. Two communicative tasks were used, and tasks were carried out by 32 high school students in L2 only, or in L1 and L2 during group test sessions held on different days. Tape-recorded transcripts of learners when performing the tasks, interviews, and questionnaires were collected and analysed to investigate effect on the use of L1. The findings suggest that during performing the tasks, learners used their L1 to complete their tasks for a variety of functions. Through the L1, they explained and negotiated the task each other, or checked their understanding or compared answers to the task against their peers. To allow the learners to use of their L1 was even more effective than to urge them to use L2 only in a foreign language class using task. Further investigation indicates that, if one of goals of output-based introduction is considered as the successful completion of the task, the learners’ use of L1 may be beneficial to attain the goal when performing completely in L2 is impossible or beyond the learners’ linguistic ability.

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이 연구는 자기조절학습전략 활용 과제기반언어학습을 영어수업에 적용한 후 학업성취도와 영어 학습태도 차원에서 그 효과성을 규명하고자 하였다. 먼저 학습자의 능동적인 학습과정을 도울 수 있는 자기조절학습전략 활용 과제기반언어 교수 학습 모형을 도출하였다. 이어서 초등영어 5학년 정규교육과정운영 틀에서 자기조절학습전략 활용 과제기반언어학습 수업을 설계하고 실제 적용하였다. 연구결과 첫째, 자기조절학습전략 활용 과제기반언어학습은 학업성취 상위, 중위, 하위 집단에 따른 학업성취도 변화에 대한 분석 결과 학업성취 상위집단과 하위집단 간에 유의미한 차이를 보였다. 둘째, 자기조절학습전략 활용 과제기반언 어학습은 영어에 대한 자아개념, 영어에 대한 태도, 영어에 대한 학습 습관으로 정의된 영어 학습태도의 모든 영역에서 유의미한 차이가 있었다. 자기조절학습전략 활용 과제기반언어학습은 학습자 중심 교육이라는 초등영어교육 추세를 고려할 때 교육현장에 유용하므로 자기조절학습력과 실제적 의사소통능력에 초점을 둔 보다 다양한 교수설계 연구가 요청된다.

This paper examines students’ attitudes to and perceptions of task-based learning in an EFL college setting. The assessment of ‘form-focused tasks versus unfocused tasks’ (Nunan, 2004) was based on a 12 week task-based English program designed to improve the students interaction and communication in English. To evaluate the effectiveness of the form-focused tasks and unfocused tasks in the EFL context, the author administrated surveys on the learner needs before the program, students’ attitude towards their learning, and measured student achievement both prior to and at the end of the program. For the in-depth analysis, the author interviewed a student focus group and a teacher focus group. The results showed that the program was effective in increasing students’ achievement scores and enhancing their confidence in communicating with native speakers. However, the attitude toward form-focused tasks and form-unfocused tasks was different according to the students language proficiency. It seems that task-based language learning and teaching requires specific alterations in instructional roles and student learning roles to make the task language learning successful for university students.