The Impact of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) on Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners’ Reading Comprehension in Junior High School

In recent decades, task-based language teaching (TBLT) has been offered as a more effective alternative to traditional methods of foreign language teaching. The current research sought to examine the impact of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) on the reading comprehension abilities of ninth-grade high school students. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the study involved a convenience sample of ۴۴ students from two intact ninth-grade classes at a high school located in Sarab, East Azarbayjan, Iran. Participants were randomly allocated to two conditions: an experimental group comprising ۲۱ individuals and a control group consisting of ۲۳ individuals. Those in the experimental group received instruction based on task-oriented methodologies, whereas participants in the control group were educated using traditional instructional techniques. To evaluate the participants' reading comprehension, reading sections derived from two parallel versions of the Key English Test (KET) were administered during both the pretest and posttest phases. The statistical analysis conducted using the Paired-samples t-test to compare the mean scores of pretests and posttests in both groups indicated that each group experienced statistically significant improvements in reading comprehension from the pretest to the posttest. However, a more detailed examination of the data, which involved comparing the mean scores of both groups at both testing intervals, demonstrated that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the posttest related to reading comprehension. The implementation of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) within the experimental group resulted in a more substantial enhancement of participants' reading comprehension skills. The findings of the study may have significant pedagogical implications for professionals engaged in foreign language education and instruction.

کلیدواژه ها:

EFL Learners ، Junior High School ، Reading Comprehension ، Task-Based Language Teaching