TASK-BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE

Abstract

There has been a popular trend to focus on communication skill rather on grammar translation when teaching English at tertiary settings. Among different approaches to obtain this focus, Task-based Language Teaching appears to be prominent in helping learners improve their communicative competence. This paper presents a research on the use of TBLT in teaching Listening and Speaking skills for students at International Education Center, Hanoi University in order to enhance their communicative competence. The treatment with TBLT lasted for 5 weeks; two instruments to collect data were employed namely Pre-Role-play Test and Post-Role-play Test, and Individual Interview. The study reveals that after the experimental time, the students’ communicative competence improved considerably and their attitudes toward TBLT were rather positive.