TASK BASED LEARNING AND PROJECT BASED

In my opinion, Task Based teaching is a teaching model which gives materials

and knowledge to the learners to develop specific activities in order to complete

a task. The tasks are usually focused on common and daily activities like role

plays, calling for information, etc. in order to manage a real language, and to

increase the production practice activities with children, even to solve their

communicative problems.

According To Rod Ellis (2000 p. 67) “Task based learning is a form of teaching

that treats language primarily as a tool for communicating rather than as an

object for study and manipulation”. He says that the characteristics of task

students have to concentrate on a particular structure, function or vocabulary

group, the task exploit a wider range of language. But in some cases, students

may also be using a range of different communicative language skills.

Jane Willis (1998 p.86) argued that tasks are the central to the learning activity,

he says that students will may learn more effectively when there are focused on

the task, rather than on the language that they are using. Jane says that

students start with the task, and when they have completed it, usually the

teacher draws attention to the language used, making corrections and

adjustment to the students´ performance.

Jane presents three stages of process:

• Pre-task - Introduction to the topic and task.

• Task cycle - Task planning and report

• Language focus - Analysis and practice

Jane Willis (1998 p.86) argued that Task based learning can be more effective

at intermediate levels and beyond, nevertheless many teachers questions it

usefulness at lower levels. This methodology requires a change in the

traditional teacher and students´ role. The teacher is an observer during the

task phase, and uses a language informant only during the “language focus”

stage.

I think task based learning, is an activity where the target language is used by

the learner for a communicative purpose or goal, in order to achieve an

outcome.
 Project Based Learning

In my concept Project based learning is a complete approach to classroom

teaching and learning, that is designated to engage students in a real

investigation of authentic problems in their learning context, also the use of

technology and to involve students in a project based learning, permit that they

learn from their experiences and apply this knowledge in their lives and in the

real world.

According to Barron B (1998 p.230) Project based learning is a didactic

methodology, where the student learn different concepts of a specific subject,

through a project realization. He argued that project based learning encourage

different important abilities, such as: The group work, the autonomous learning,

planning the time, the capacity for writing and oral expressions, and improve

student motivation. That is, that the student improve his/her academic process.

Cynthia B. (2000 p. 59) argued that Project based learning students learn from

their own experiences and then take them into account and apply them to their

lives in the real world. She says that with the project based students have to

think in original ways for the solution of real problems, and it help with their

creativity thinking skills by demonstrating that there are many ways to solve a

problem.

In my opinion Project based learning capture students´ interest and provoque

their serious thinking as students, even student acquire and apply new

knowledge in a problem solving context. Project-based learning helps prepare

students for the thinking and collaboration skills required in a workplace.

References

Ellis R (2000) Project Based Learning Teaching Oxford New York

Cynthia B (2000) Project Based Learning National Book Germany

Willis J (1998) Project Based Teaching and Learning Oxford New York