Applied Linguistics Back Ground To The Research

Applied Linguistics
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Chapter one:
1.1 Back ground to the Research
The tradition of teaching English language has showed great improvements especially throughout the twentieth century. Language learning, unlike other disciplines, has been practiced in different adaptations and settings across the world (Brown, 2000). The purpose of this research was to study and investigate one of the various methodologies of language teaching commonly known as Task-based Language teaching (TBLT). Task-based language teaching is a subcategory of communicative language teaching that aims to facilitate language acquisition for students as they interact using target language while completing certain tasks (Larsen-Freeman, 2000). The research was to evaluate the book “Cutting Edge 3rd Ed” which is a communicative course with a task-based approach that helps ESL students achieve their desired goals. Cutting Edge was chosen because it is one of the most popular English teaching courses across the world. This book is popular among its users because Cutting Edge delivers the target lessons via live lessons, DVDs and they attract the learner’s attention through introducing current relevant contemporary global issues.
One of the effective methods of teaching L2 is the task-based language teaching (TBLT). This is a subcategory of communicative language teaching that aims to facilitate language acquisition for students as they interact using the target language while completing certain tasks (Larsen-Freeman, 2000). According to Hismanoglu & Sibel (2011), TBLT fosters process-focused syllabi through devising communicative tasks to enhance learner’s language use. This process-focused approach has gained prominence in the recent past due to its efficacy in facilitating transfer of knowledge from teachers to learners. While it is through that teaching L2 has witnessed significant improvement, Lowe (2003) argues that one cannot ignore the traditional methods and approaches. Lowe argues that the method and approach regarded as traditional now was one time in history a very efficient method and therefore, cannot de discounted. In line with Lowe’s point of view, this research essay evaluated the book “Cutting Edge 3rd Ed” which is a communicative course with a task-based approach that helps ESL students achieve their desired goals. The choice of this book was in consideration to its application of TBLT as a method and approach of teaching the second language.
This research essay was divided into two sections. The first section was the evaluation of efficiency of TBLT in L2 acquisition. The second part of the essay sought to evaluate “Cutting Edge” 3rd edition text book with an intention of examining its use of TBLT methodologies with respect to the four strands (i.e. learning through speaking, listening, writing and reading). Each of the four listed methodologies was explored with examples to test the application of TBLT, bearing in mind that this text has been widely recognized in the teaching of L2. To meet the objective of this research, the researcher framed the paper to respond to four research questions. The purpose of this approach was to provide a sense of direc...