Task-based language teaching in the business English classroom

File(s)
Date
2013-04-10Author
Hyde, Colleen
Department
TESOL
Advisor(s)
Klemp, Annette
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Students all over the world attend classes in Business English to further their careers. Business English instruction can prepare students for jobs in international business or improve their current English level. Instructors use the most recent teaching methods for English language instruction and adapt them to the Business English classroom. One current instructional method is Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) which centers class time around a pedagogical task. Students work together in groups to complete tasks while the teacher acts mainly as a language guide. Since the business world primarily consists of tasks, TBLT can teach business tasks and Business English using classroom tasks. This paper examines both the history and characteristics of Business English and TBLT, and discusses how TBLT is suited for Business English instruction. TBLT is compared to more traditional, teacher centered approaches and methods. The basic stages of TBLT are examined and discussed with emphasis on when the teacher can focus on form and/or meaning. Two sample lesson plans developed for post-graduate university students are included in the paper to show how TBLT can be used in the Business English classroom. The lesson plans focus on the business tasks of writing business emails and writing an itinerary. These TBLT lessons plans can be adapted for use in Business English classrooms and illustrate how TBLT can be used to teach Business English by using pedagogical tasks that mirror real world business tasks. This makes the lesson plan more meaningful to the students, and allows them to use the business skills and language taught outside of the classroom. These basic lessons can also be used as templates to teach additional business tasks including: writing business letters, giving presentations, and preparing business reports.
Subject
English language--Study and teaching--Foreign speakers
TBLT
Task-based language teaching
English language -- Business English -- Study and teaching
Business English
Task analysis in education
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/65453Type
Thesis
Description
Plan B Paper. 2013. Master of Arts-TESOL--University of Wisconsin-River Falls. English Department. iii + 59 leaves. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-48).
Licensed under:
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
The influence of world Englishes on Chinese English and English teaching in college
Chen, Heping (2015) -
The impact of foreign language anxiety on the acquisition of oral English proficiency for EFL college students in China
Lu, Yanhong (Lucy) (2016-07-21)