ABSTRACT

Task-based Language Teaching(TBLT) is a new teaching method which has been widely applied to language teaching since 1980s. Its advocates believe that students can experience success by completing tasks. In TBLT classes, students are encouraged to learn the language through doing a series of tasks, in the process of which students’ interest in learning English can be stimulated. TBLT is different from the traditional teacher-centered method in that the class is student-centered.  

 The research was carried out in a junior high school in Zhengjiang and lasted two months. The participants are 60 students in two classes of Grade Seven. The results shows that TBLT can help students to develop an interest in learning the comic strip part and help students improve their understanding of the comic strip part. It will also help students to improve their ability to communicate. 

The implication of this research is that TBLT can be applied to Junior High School comic strip teaching. Teachers should change their old ideas and try adopting this new method to make their teaching more interesting and learn to design proper tasks to help students learning English better.

Key Words: Task-based language teaching; Comic strip teaching; Junior High Schools

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Background of the Study-1

1.1.1 General Situation of English Teaching in Junior Middle Schools-1

1.1.2 Traditional Comic Strip Teaching in China and its Problems-2

1.1.3 Aims and Demands for Comic Strip Teaching-2

1.2 The Significance of the Study-2

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-4

2.1 The Brief Introduction of Task-based Language Teaching-4

2.1.1 Task-4

2.1.2 Task-based Language Teaching-4

2.2 Theoretical Basis of Task-based Language Teaching-5

2.2.1 Interaction Hypothesis-5

2.2.2 Humanism-5

2.3 Previous Studies on Task-based Language Teaching-6

2.3.1 Researches on TBLT Abroad-6

2.3.2 Researches on TBLT at Home-6

Chapter Three PRINCIPLES of TASK-BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING and TASK DESIDNING-8

3.1 Main Features of Task-based Language Teaching-8

3.2 Principles of Task-based Language Teaching-8

3.3 The Designing of tasks in comic strip part-9

Chapter Four Methodology-10

4.1 Research Questions-10

4.2 Research Design-10

4.2.1 Purpose of the Experiment-10

4.2.2 Subjects of the Experiment-10

4.2.3 Teaching Materials-11

4.2.4 Research Methods & Procedures-11

4.3 Data Collection and Analysis-12

Chapter Five FINDINGS and DISCUSSIONS-13

5.1 Examinations-13

5.2 Questionnaires-15

5.3 Interviews-20

Chapter Six CONCLUSION-22

References-23

Appendix-24