Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Task-Based English Teaching In The Middle School Context

The task-based language teaching is the further development of the communicative language teaching which attract lots of scholars’attention in recent years. Under the guideline of " learning by doing, learning by using ", the TBLT approach place an emphasis on learning to communicate through the interaction in the target language, introduction of authentic materials in the classroom, and build learner’s knowledge system through their personal experience.In2001, the Chinese government launched a new round of national curriculum, and TBLT approach was strongly advocated as an official syllabus. It claims that task-based approach can develop students’ positive attitude toward learning and enhance their language competence. Since then, it became a new teaching approach in China. In order to get a clear picture of how realistic the TBLT innovation is, it is necessary for us to do some research on this issue. This paper elaborates on teachers’ perception of TBLT and how they put TBLT in their actual teaching practice. Based on the study, the paper explores the factors that caused current situation.Few researches have been done on middle school teachers’perception of TBLT approach from teachers part since the issue of the New English Curriculum standards. The author uses some data-collection methods including questionnaire, interview and classroom observation in order to get first-hand materials on teachers’perception of TBLT approach. The major findings are as follows:teachers do not have adequate knowledge on TBLT; they can not effectively adopt TBLT approach in their teaching practice. On the contrary, some of the teachers we investigated show their preference for traditional teaching approach. And the outcomes we get are not very optimistic. Teachers list some factors why they do not adopt TBLT in their teaching practice, namely, the score-centered assessing standard, limited class time, and extra preparation. Based on the findings, the author gives some suggestion:1. The educational official should create some favorable conditions for teachers to familiar with their textbooks.2. The educational authorities should provide enough training program for the teacher better understand and implement TBLT in their teaching practice. The different schools should cooperate with each other and share their successful cases。 The government should change the traditional assessment methods.3. In order to implement TBLT approach effectively, teachers should actively improve their knowledge on theories and principles of TBLT。Teachers should have open attitude towards TBLT approach and raise their awareness on this approach...