Implementing Task-Based Language Teaching to Integrate Language Skills in an EFL Program at a Colombian University

Abstract

Implementación de la enseñanza de lenguas mediante tareas para integrar las habilidades lingüísticas de estudiantes en un programa de inglés como lengua extranjera de una universidad colombiana Eulices Córdoba Zúñiga* Universidad de la Amazonia, Florencia, ColombiaThis article reports the findings of a qualitative research study conducted with six first semester students of an English as a foreign language program in a public university in Colombia. The aim of the study was to implement task-based language teaching as a way to integrate language skills and help learners to improve their communicative competence in English. The results suggest that the implementation of task-based language teaching facilitated the integration of the four skills in the English as a foreign language context. Furthermore, tasks were meaningful and integrated different reading, writing, listening, and speaking exercises that enhanced students' communicative competences and interaction. It can be concluded that task-based language teaching is a good approach to be used in the promotion of skills integration and language competences.Key words: Integration, language skills, task and communicative competence, task-based language teaching.Este artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación cualitativa llevada a cabo con seis estudiantes de primer semestre de un programa de enseñanza de inglés como idioma extranjero en una universidad pública colombiana. El objetivo del estudio fue implementar la enseñanza de idiomas basada en tareas como una manera para integrar las habilidades del idioma extranjero y ayudar a los estudiantes a mejorar sus competencias comunicativas. Los resultados sugieren que este enfoque ayudó a integrar las cuatro habilidades de la lengua. Las tareas eran significativas y combinaban diferentes ejercicios en cada habilidad, los cuales mejoraron la comunicación y la interacción entre los estudiantes. En conclusión, la enseñanza de idiomas basadas en tareas facilita la integración de las habilidades lingüísticas.Palabras clave: enseñanza de lengua basada en tareas, habilidades del lenguaje, integración, tareas y competencias comunicativas. * E-mail: eu.cordoba@udla.edu.coHow to cite this article (apa, 6 th ed.): Córdoba Zúñiga, E. (2016). Implementing task-based language teaching to integrate language skills in an efl program at a Colombian university. profile Issues in Teachers' Professional Development, 18(2), 13-27. http://dx

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