The Impact of Task-based Activities on the Reading Skill of Iranian EFL Young Learners at the Beginner Level
Task-based learning and teaching in the realm of teaching young learners is still considered an adventure since very few experimental studies to date have tackled its applicability in that age group. The present research was an attempt to find out whether using task-based reading activities has any...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch
2009-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Linguistics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jal.iaut.ac.ir/article_524142_b61ca76505b48e0efeb5f9951330e86c.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818937611118444544 |
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| author | Arshya Keyvanfar Mona Modarresi |
| author_facet | Arshya Keyvanfar Mona Modarresi |
| author_sort | Arshya Keyvanfar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Task-based learning and teaching in the realm of teaching young learners is still considered an adventure since very few experimental studies to date have tackled its applicability in that age group. The present research was an attempt to find out whether using task-based reading activities has any impact on the development of text comprehension in Iranian young learners studying English as a foreign language at the beginner level. Two groups of 25 students, aged 11 to 13, were the participants of the study. Through a reading pretest, it was ensured that the two groups were at the same level and belonged to the same population in terms of the reading skill. Having instructed the experimental group with four task types and the control group with classical reading activities, the researcher compared the reading performance of the two groups through a t-test which, not surprisingly, manifested the better performance of the experimental group. A follow-up reading test also showed that the experimental group still enjoyed a higher level of reading skill after one month. Furthermore, the scores gained from the four task types were compared and it was concluded that the students performed better in tasks which involved creativity and gave them the experience of playing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:54:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7373685a942843c5907059696a7c2ce2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2008-8434 2538-1695 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:54:42Z |
| publishDate | 2009-05-01 |
| publisher | Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Linguistics |
| spelling | doaj.art-7373685a942843c5907059696a7c2ce22022-12-21T19:51:04ZengIslamic Azad University, Tabriz BranchJournal of Applied Linguistics2008-84342538-16952009-05-012481102524142The Impact of Task-based Activities on the Reading Skill of Iranian EFL Young Learners at the Beginner LevelArshya KeyvanfarMona ModarresiTask-based learning and teaching in the realm of teaching young learners is still considered an adventure since very few experimental studies to date have tackled its applicability in that age group. The present research was an attempt to find out whether using task-based reading activities has any impact on the development of text comprehension in Iranian young learners studying English as a foreign language at the beginner level. Two groups of 25 students, aged 11 to 13, were the participants of the study. Through a reading pretest, it was ensured that the two groups were at the same level and belonged to the same population in terms of the reading skill. Having instructed the experimental group with four task types and the control group with classical reading activities, the researcher compared the reading performance of the two groups through a t-test which, not surprisingly, manifested the better performance of the experimental group. A follow-up reading test also showed that the experimental group still enjoyed a higher level of reading skill after one month. Furthermore, the scores gained from the four task types were compared and it was concluded that the students performed better in tasks which involved creativity and gave them the experience of playing.http://jal.iaut.ac.ir/article_524142_b61ca76505b48e0efeb5f9951330e86c.pdfTask-Based Language Teaching (TBLT)Young LearnersTask TypeReading skillBeginner Level |
| spellingShingle | Arshya Keyvanfar Mona Modarresi The Impact of Task-based Activities on the Reading Skill of Iranian EFL Young Learners at the Beginner Level Journal of Applied Linguistics Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) Young Learners Task Type Reading skill Beginner Level |
| title | The Impact of Task-based Activities on the Reading Skill of Iranian EFL Young Learners at the Beginner Level |
| title_full | The Impact of Task-based Activities on the Reading Skill of Iranian EFL Young Learners at the Beginner Level |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Task-based Activities on the Reading Skill of Iranian EFL Young Learners at the Beginner Level |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Task-based Activities on the Reading Skill of Iranian EFL Young Learners at the Beginner Level |
| title_short | The Impact of Task-based Activities on the Reading Skill of Iranian EFL Young Learners at the Beginner Level |
| title_sort | impact of task based activities on the reading skill of iranian efl young learners at the beginner level |
| topic | Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) Young Learners Task Type Reading skill Beginner Level |
| url | http://jal.iaut.ac.ir/article_524142_b61ca76505b48e0efeb5f9951330e86c.pdf |
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