Application Of Task-based Learning In English Skills Development In Senior High School

English Curriculum Standards (experimental)(2003) advocates Task-based Teaching, which is a language teaching approach by leading students to learn the target language by doing tasks. Task-based Learning and Task-based Teaching are both student-centered. They study on "how to learn". The only difference between the two is that tasks are purpose for teaching while tasks are means for learning. According to Task-based Learning theory, the design of language pedagogic syllabus does not arrange learning content and order based on language items, but design a series of tasks. In the learning process, students learn language through various communicative tasks rather than learning language items one by one. Its prominent feature is "learning by doing". Task-based Learning combines organically the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing together in the process of teaching and learning, lets the language learning have real communicative purposes, and also offers opportunities for students’interaction and the meaning exchange. In the task-based classroom, in order to complete the task, the students cooperate with each other and produce language communication. In the communication process there are continuous mutual correction and meaning negotiation. The students experience "semantic processing" and "syntactic processing" from focusing on "meaning" to focusing on "form". So that students have the opportunity to internalize and handle language knowledge through practice, promote the development of interlanguage system, and eventually realize automaticity of language knowledge and using the correct language form without thinking.The development of students’ English skills is not only the key but also the difficulty of English teaching in senior high school as well. In the past traditional teaching approaches and exam-oriented education, English teaching emphasizes on language knowledge and neglects the development of language skills. However the implementation of tasks in Task-based Learning involves the use of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and so the four language skills can be trained and improved. At present English teachers in the first line are trying to use the Task-based Learning approach in English class. However many of them still have no deep understanding about Task-based Learning Theory. Their implementation of Task-based Learning Theory is limited to imitation. This makes Task-based Learning class nominal. What is the real task? What is Task-based Learning? How to apply Task-based Learning Theory in high school to develop the learners’ English skills? Why is Task-based Learning Theory used to cultivate the students’ English skills? Based on these, this thesis explores the application of Task-based Learning Theory in English skills development in senior high school classroom teaching.This research explores and confirms that the Task-based Learning theory is more helpful and effective than the traditional teaching approaches in developing senior high school students’ English skills through the design and implementation of various tasks based on a profound understanding about task-based learning theory and its theoretical basis. So that it can provide some enlightenment for the practical and specific implementation and application of task-based learning theory and senior high school English skills teaching. Meanwhile, the author also hopes this thesis can offer a theoretical and practical reference for senior high school English teachers in the practical implementation of task-based learning theory.