Editing Rod Ellis (section)

== Task-Based Language Teaching ==
A leading theorist in his field of study, Ellis has focused much of his research on task-based language teaching (TBLT).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ellis|first=Rod|title=Task-based language learning and teaching.|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2003|pages=23, 24}}</ref> In defining a task, Ellis draws off the definitions provided by others scholars (namely David Nunan and Graham Crookes) by focusing on the successful conveyance of language.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Ellis|first=Rod|url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015057612957|title=Task-based language learning and teaching /|date=2003|publisher=Oxford, U.K.|hdl=2027/mdp.39015057612957}}</ref>

Ellis defines the key features of a task as being:

# A workplan: there is a set of teaching materials and activities which are designated for the learning process.
# A primary focus on meaning: there is a gap of communication or reason that must be filled through interaction. Students are given the freedom to use the language of their choosing rather than focusing on grammatical form.    
#A real world process of language: the task can take the form of an interaction that is likely or less than likely to happen in the real world. The language process should exhibit real-world communication.    
#One that involves any of the four languages skills (reading, writing, listening or speaking).    
#One that engages cognitive processes: students must utilize cognitive processes through their engagement with the task, such as ordering, analyzing and selecting. 
#A clearly defined communicative outcome: the goal of the activity includes a non-linguistic negotiation for meaning.
In his explanation of a task, Ellis careful to illustrate its contrast with an activity, with the former being primarily meaning focused and the latter placing more emphasis on form. This distinction also affects the role of each participant, as a task requires students to act as language users. Alternatively, an activity requires the students to act as language learners.<ref name=":0" />