E-task based language teaching(ETBLT)

Amjad TahaINTERLINK Language Centers/AlYammamah University

Outline

• Introduction to ETBLT• Developing a task • My favorite digital tools• Developing your ETBLT • How does technology enhance the learning from tasks? • Challenges • Q&A and feedback cards

ETBLT (Introduction )

E-Task based language teaching (ETBLT) is a process-oriented approach that uses one type of technology such as (web-based tools, websites or apps) to create meaningful learning opportunities for the learners. Centering language education around E-tasks is expected to give learners an experiential educative process in which they use the target language for making meaning in real life situations.

However, when communicative tasks are implemented in classroom settings, a major challenge arises in how to make these tasks authentic, or perceived as authentic by the students. The second challenge is designing tasks that generate meaning based communication (lai&li 2013). Other challenges include students’ overreliance on the teacher, the crowded classrooms and students’ passive learning style. •

Many of these challenges are due to temporal physical constraints of the classroom context and can be minimized with the assistance of technology. The use of technology enhances the authenticity of tasks and the motivation of task implementation in addition to facilitating the students’ ownership of tasks.

Developing a task

In groups of three, please develop a task about a topic of your choice.The more confidently you can answer yes to each of these questions, the more task-like the activity.• Will the activity engage learners' interest?• Is there a primary focus on meaning?• Is there a goal or an outcome?• Is success judged in terms of outcome?• Is completion a priority?• Does the activity relate to real world activities?'

My favorite digital tools

Web-based tools

Name of the tool: Voki

Description: Voki is a FREE service that lets you: Create customized avatars. Add voice to your Voki avatars. Post your Voki to any blog, website, or profile. Take advantage of Voki's learning resources.URL: • http://www.voki.com/

Web-based tools

Name: Google maps

Description:

Google Maps Help you to create highly motivating activities and tasks that encourage students to practice reading, writing and speaking skills as well as develop visual literacy, cartographic and technical skills. It appeals to younger students in general and visual learners in particular. It is easily adaptable for project based learning tasks for the entire class, for groups or for individuals. And best of all, it is fun and free.

URL: www.maps.google.com

Web-based tools

Name: TeamUp

Description: It is a shared calendar application.  With Teamup it's easy for groups to share plans, schedules and processes without requiring anyone to have an account or share personal calendars.  You can create your calendar for free and share it via secret links with highly flexible access control.  

URL: www.teamup.com

Web-based tools

Name: VoiceThread

Description: This tool allows teachers and students to upload, share and discuss documents, presentations, images, audio files and videos. Over 50 different types of media can be used in a VoiceThread. Users can comment on VoiceThread slides using one of five powerful commenting options: microphone, webcam, text, phone, and audio-file upload.URL: www.voicethread.com

Web-based tools

Name: Edmodo

Description: Edmodo provides a safe and easy way for your class to connect and collaborate, share content, and access homework, grades and school notices.

URL: www.edmodo.com

Web-based tools

Name: Glogster

Description: Glogster is a tool that allows your students to create interactive posters. The students insert text, images, photos, audio, videos, special effects and other elements into their posters to generate a multimedia online creation.URL:www.glogster.com

ELT websites

Name: Audio Lingua

Description: Audio Lingua is a website from the GEP (a Group of Pedagogical Experiments) of the Regional Centre of Pedagogical Documentation (C.R.D.P). It offers personalized mp3 resources to listen online or download in order to practice the oral comprehension skill.URL: www.audio-lingua.eu

ELT websites

Name: Verbling

Description: Verbling's mission is to make language learning faster and easier for anyone. It offers free classes in English for the students to join and practice their English with other English speakers from different parts of the world. URL:www.verbling.com

ELT websites

Name: Film English

Description: The site promotes the innovative and creative use of film in English language teaching and learning. All of the lesson plans revolve around the use of video and film to teach English. In addition, the lessons promote critical thinking in the language classroom, and encourage learners to reflect on values while learning a language.URL:www.film-english.com

ELT websites

Name: TED-Edu Description: Within the growing TED-Ed video library, you will find carefully curated educational videos, many of which represent collaborations between talented educators and animators nominated through the TED-Ed platform. This platform also allows users to take any useful educational video, not just TED's, and easily create a customized lesson around the video.URL: www.ed.ted.com

ELT websites

Name: CNN students news & Breaking News English

Description: They are daily web shows highlighting a handful of stories. The stories covered range from traditional serious news topics to light and fun stories. These sites provide printable quizzes and tasks that go along with each story. URLs: http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/& breakingnewsenglish.com

Applications

Name: Writing prompts

Description: This writing prompt generator app uses pictures, colors, words, genres and different types of writing to provide creative inspiration for writers and writing students. The app also includes a database of 600 creative writing prompts in the form of quotes, story openers and writing exercises.

Applications

Name: Word Bucket

Description: Word Bucket is a language dictionary, notebook and word-learning game all in one great app. In this app, students can find new words, then test themselves, and play word games.

Applications

Name : My Word Book

Description: It is an interactive vocabulary notebook for learners of English. Students can learn new words with multimedia flashcards, edit them or add new ones, practice with instant activities, and watch their vocabulary grow!Each word card contains an image, audio pronunciation, translation (5 languages included), and definition and example sentences from Cambridge dictionaries.

Applications

Name: Learn English Grammar

Description: LearnEnglish Grammar is a top interactive grammar practice app designed to help improve English grammar accuracy. The app offers 1000s of questions to help practice and reinforce your English grammar skills.

Developing your ETBLT

• Please choose a digital tool from the list that I just shared with you, and incorporate it in the task that you designed at the beginning of the session.

How does technology enhance the learning from tasks?

How does technology enhance the learning from tasks?

• Language production (Low affective filters)• Motivation • Quality of language • Creating real life situations

Challenges

Are there any challenges?

Familiarity ResistanceReluctance

Questions

Thank you

Thank you

ataha@interlink.edu