After attending a Task-Based Instruction (TBI) workshop at the TESOL International Convention and English Language Expo in March 2015, I began to think about ways that I could implement these ideas in my own adult ESL context.  Task-Teach-Task is a simplified TBI framework that focuses on using lead-in tasks (Task 1) to support instructors in diagnosing needs of students and helping learners self-assess their own knowledge.  This formative assessment data is then used by the instructor to provide targeted instruction (Teach) based on the focal language feature(s) elicited by the first task (Task 1) and once again demonstrated in a different task (Task 2).  In this instructional cycle, tasks are strategically developed with a focus on conveying meaning, eliciting language that is used by the learner for a communicative purpose and facilitating interaction and collaboration while utilizing focal language features. Over the course of six-weeks, I specifically practiced implementing Task-Teach-Task with feedback from other ELT Professionals and developed a template and several lessons.

TaskTeachTask_LessonPlanTemplate

TaskTeachTask_SampleLessonPlanwithSupportingMaterials

You will also find these files under the "Uploaded Files" section of this teaching tip.

Plews, J. L., & Zhao, K. (2010). Tinkering with tasks knows no bounds: ESL teachers’ adaptations of task-based language-teaching. TESL Canada Journal, 28(1), 41.

Skehan, P. (2003). Task-based instruction. Language teaching, 36(01), 1-14.

William, S. (2015, February).  Task-Based Instruction: Building Bridges from Classroom to Real Life. Retrieved from http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolalis/issues/2015-02-06/7.html