task-based language learning

This paper presents a comprehensive review of 50 studies conducted between 2014 and 2023, delving into the world of mobile-assisted task-based language learning (M-TBLL). Our investigation sought to illuminate the educational and learning contexts, methodologies, data collection techniques, learning outcomes, and challenges associated with M-TBLL. To this end, we meticulously combed through the ISI Web of Science database, ultimately analyzing 50 carefully selected papers from a pool of 398 identified publications. The review yielded several key findings. First, all included studies focused on language learning, demonstrating the versatility of M-TBLL across various linguistic domains. Second, a clear trend emerged toward higher education settings as the primary research ground for M-TBLL, highlighting its potential for advanced language acquisition. Moreover, the review revealed a growing emphasis on informal learning contexts, suggesting a shift towards mobile technology facilitating language learning beyond the traditional classroom walls. In-depth empirical studies on mobile seamless learning could shed light on the integration of mobile devices into existing learning environments. Additionally, research into tasks specifically designed based on learners' needs analyses could personalize and optimize the M-TBLL experience. Finally, investigations into cognitive load and learning anxiety in M-TBLL contexts could offer valuable insights into mitigating student stress and maximizing learning potential. By addressing these gaps and embracing emerging trends, future research can continue to shape and refine the landscape of M-TBLL, unlocking its full potential for enhancing language acquisition in diverse educational settings.

The paper aimed to understand how role-playing affected the speaking proficiency of pre-intermediate EFL learners. Speaking skills in the experimental and control groups were evaluated. 24 pre-intermediate students from the English Translation Field of Chabahar Maritime University in Chabahar, Iran, who were chosen for the study based on their performance on a pretest, comprised the participants. Twenty was the range of their ages. Both male and female students were present. While the treatment implemented for each group was chosen randomly, these two groups were not. The placement test results showed the participants' homogeneity and degree of proficiency. Using role-playing techniques, the researcher conducted in-group activities to simulate conversation. The conventional method of instruction was given to the control group simultaneously. The post-test was given to understand their improvement in speaking after eighteen sessions utilizing "Speak Now 1". According to inferential statistics, the experimental group members performed differently in the post-test. After comparing utilizing two independent paired t-tests, the mean for the control group was 12 while the experimental group was 14. The mean of the two groups differed by 2 points, and the p-value was p= 0.026<p= .05. In summary, the experimental group had better outcomes. Also, it could improve their speaking ability using the above-mentioned book that acting in front of their peers, enhanced their expressive abilities.

Task-based language learning and blended learning have become an ideology in modern EFL teaching and are considered to be an effective trend in teaching English as a foreign language. Thus, the present study explored the effect of integrating blended language learning into task-based language learning on Iranian male and female intermediate EFL learners’ reading comprehension ability. Initially, four groups including two experimental groups and two control groups were formed. The two experimental groups were taught through blended integrated task-based language learning. In so doing, Staker and Horn’s (2012) blended learning model was integrated into Ellis’ (2017) task-based model in order to improve participants’ reading comprehension ability. In this innovative approach, learners were involved in a series of offline and online focused and unfocused task-based reading comprehension activities, whereas the control groups were taught through conventional reading comprehension methods using traditional reading strategies. Accordingly, the results of ANCOVA indicated that learners in the experimental groups obtained considerably higher scores than those in the control groups. Further, the results of two-way ANOVA depicted that there was no substantial difference between the female and male learners across groups. Finally, the pedagogical implications of this study suggested that curriculum designers and materials developers can incorporate the innovative notion of integrating blended learning into task-based language learning method to transform the learning environment into more student-centered classrooms. More importantly, the teachers can develop learners’ critical thinking and metacognitive skills by designing interactive reading comprehension online tasks.