Perceptions of English Language Learners towards Task-based Language Teaching: A Review of Studies

Pages: 159-163
Shazia Hasnain1 and Santoshi Halder2 (Department of Education, Aliah University, Kolkata, West Bengal1 and Department of Education, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal2)

Learners’ perception about the task-based approach is an important area of study as students are major stakeholders in new approaches of teaching, and therefore, their opinion and perceptions can help in a better understanding of an approach. Usually, in many developing countries, including India, teacher-centred approaches are followed in teaching English as a second language, leading to ineffective development of learners’ communicative skills. The task-based approach has been used in many countries around the world effectively to develop the communicative skills of the second and foreign language learners. The studies have reported the effectiveness of task-based approach and have even discussed the approach from the point of view of teachers. Some studies have particularly collected feedback from the learners to know about their experience in the task-based approach. The present review is an analysis of eleven studies based on the perceptions of students towards task-based approach. This analysis adds to the existing literature by pointing out the positive and negative aspects of TBLT from learners’ point of view.