DefinePK

Abstract

Speaking skills are considered as the most significant of all four skills of a language and it happens to be the most challenging skill for EFL learners. In Pakistan, traditional pedagogical methods make EFL classrooms monotonous, boring and less productive. It is anticipated that the use of interactive and communicative modern methods in EFL classes may help students improve their speaking skills. Hence, the present paper aimed to investigate whether and to what extent Task Based Language Teaching Strategies help students improve their speaking ability and to describe the teaching and learning situation of EFL classrooms when TBLT was implemented as perceived by the students. To carry out the set objectives, the researchers conducted this classroom-based action research using Mixed-Methods of research in a public Girls college, Hyderabad. The research tools included questionnaires, semi- structured interviews, TBLT lesson plans, evaluation forms and follow-up interviews. The participants of the study were 150 randomly selected undergraduate female students, 15 female students of B.S. II (Computer Science department) and 5 female language teachers in a public college, Hyderabad. The subjects were pre and post tested to determine their speaking ability before and after the intervention. Speaking skills were assessed in terms of Fluency and accuracy. The scores of pre-test and post-test were compared to find out the difference in their oral performance before and after the intervention. The research findings showed that the ESL students out performed orally in post-test. The qualitative data analysis revealed that the ESL students had positive perception about TBLT and they noticed a good change in the environment of English compulsory class and found it a conducive teaching situation to learn speaking. Moreover, the researchers found TBLT strategies effective in improving students’ speaking skills, for increasing their fluency and confidence level in speaking. However, to make learners more accurate in speaking, they need to practice speaking more.