Investigating task difficulty: Learners' and teachers' perceptions

International Journal of Applied Linguistics

Volumn 19, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 1-25

  Tavakoli, Parvaneh ^a  

^a LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Cognitive difficulty; Oral narratives; Perceptions; Task difficulty

Indexed keywords

EID: 62549121594     PISSN: 08026106     EISSN: 14734192     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1473-4192.2009.00216.x     Document Type: Article

References (48)

1. Auerbach, E. (1995) The politics of the ESL classroom: issues of power in pedagogical choices. In J. Tollefson (ed.), Power and inequality in language education. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. 9 33.
2. Barkhuizen, G. (1998) Discovering learners' perceptions of ESL classroom teaching/learning activities in a South African context. TESOL Quarterly 32. 1 : 85 108.
3. Block, D. (1994) A day in the life of class: teacher/learner perceptions of task purpose in conflict. System 22. 4 : 473 86.
4. Block, D. (1996) A window on the classroom: classroom events viewed from different angels. In K. Bailey D. Nunan (eds.), Voices from the language classroom. New York : Cambridge University Press. 168 95.
5. Brindley, G. (1987) Factors affecting task difficulty. In D. Nunan (ed.), Guidelines for the development of curriculum resources. Adelaide : National Curriculum Resource Centre. 45 56.
6. Brown, G., A. Anderson, R. Shilcock G. Yule (1984) Teaching talk: strategies for production and assessment. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.
7. Brown, J.D., T.D. Hudson, J. Norris W. Bonk (2002) An investigation of second language task-based performance assessment. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press.
8. Bygate, M. (1996) Effects of task repetition: appraising the developing language of learners. In D. Willis J. Willis (eds.), Challenge and change in language teaching. London : Heineman. 134 46.
9. Bygate, M. (2001) Effects of task repetition on the structure and control of oral language. In M. Bygate, P. Skehan M. Swain (eds.), Researching pedagogic tasks: second language learning, teaching and testing. Harlow : Longman. 23 48.
10. Canagarajah, A.S. (2005) Reclaiming the local in language policy and practice. Mahwah, NJ : Erlbaum.
11. Candlin, C. (1987) Towards task-based language learning. In C. Candlin D. Murphy (eds.), Language learning tasks. London : Prentice-Hall. 5 22.
12. Chalhoub-Deville, M. (2003) Second language interaction: current perspectives and future trends. Language Testing 20. 4 : 369 83.
13. Cooper, P. D. McIntyre (1994) Teachers' and pupils' perceptions of effective classroom learning: conflicts and commanalities. In M. Hughes (ed.), Perceptions of teaching and learning. Clevedon : Multilingual Matters. 66 95.
14. Creswell, J.W. (2007) Qualitative inquiry and research design. Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage.
15. Dornyei, Z. (2007) Research methods in applied linguistics. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
16. Eckerth, J. (2008) Task-based language teaching and learning: old wine in new bottles? In J. Eckerth S. Siekmann (eds.), Task based language learning and teaching. Frankfurt : Lang. 13 46.
17. Ellis, R. (2003) Task-based language teaching and testing. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
18. Ellis, R. G. Barkhuizen (2005) Analysing learner language. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
19. Foster, P. P. Tavakoli (2009) Native speakers and task performance: comparing effects on complexity, fluency and lexical diversity. Language Learning 59. 4.
20. Fulcher, G. R. Marquez Reiter (2003) Task difficulty in speaking tests. Language Testing 20. 3 : 321 44.
21. Hawkey, R. (2006) Teacher and learner perceptions of language learning activity. ELT Journal 60. 3 : 242 52.
22. Ilins, G., J. Inozu H. Yumru (2007) Teachers' and learners' perceptions of tasks: objectives and outcomes. Journal of Theory and Practice in Education 3. 1 : 60 68.
23. Kramsch, C. (2000) Second language acquisition, applied linguistics, and the teaching of foreign languages. Modern Language Journal 84. 3 : 311 26.
24. Kumaravadivelu, B. (1991) Language learning tasks: teacher intention and learner interpretation. ELT Journal 45. 2 : 98 107.
25. Kumaravadivelu, B. (2003) Beyond methods. New Haven, CT : Yale University Press.
26. Kumaravadivelu, B. (2006) TESOL methods: changing tracks, challenging trends. TESOL Quarterly 40. 1 : 59 81.
27. Lynch, T. J. Maclean (2001) A case of exercising: effects of immediate task repetition on learners' performance. In M. Bygate, P. Skehan M. Swain (eds.), Researching pedagogic tasks: second language learning, teaching and testing. Harlow : Longman. 141 63.
28. McDonough, K. W. Chaikitmongkol (2007) Teachers' and learners' reactions to a task-based EFL course in Thailand. TESOL Quarterly 41. 1 : 107 31.
29. Mehnert, U. (1998) The effects of different length of time for planning on second language performance. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 20. 1 : 83 108.
30. Miles, M.B. A.M. Huberman (1994) Qualitative data analysis: a sourcebook of new methods. Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage.
31. Mitchell, M., C. Brumfit J. Hooper (1994) Perceptions of language learning in English and foreign language classrooms. In M. Hughes (ed.), Perceptions of teaching and learning. Clevedon : Multilingual Matters. 53 65.
32. Nunan, D. K. Keobke (1995) Task difficulty from the learner's perspective: perceptions and reality. Hong Kong Papers in Linguistics and Language Teaching 18 : 1 12.
33. Ortega, L. (1999) Planning and focus on form in L2 oral performance. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 21 : 109 48.
34. Robinson, P. (1995) Task complexity and second language narrative discourse. Language Learning 45. 1 : 99 140.
35. Robinson, P. (2001a) Task complexity, task difficulty, and task production: exploring interactions in a componential framework. Applied Linguistics 221 : 27 55.
36. Robinson, P. (2001b) Task complexity, cognitive resources, and syllabus design: a triadic framework for examining task influences on SLA. In P. Robinson (ed.), Cognition and second language instruction. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press. 287 318.
37. Robinson, P. R. Gilabert (2007) Task complexity, the cognition hypothesis and second language learning and performance. International Review of Applied Linguistics 45 : 161 76.
38. Samuda, V. (2001) Guiding relationships between form and meaning during task performance: the role of the teacher. In M. Bygate, P. Skehan M. Swain (eds.), Researching pedagogic tasks: second language learning, teaching and testing. Harlow : Longman. 119 41.
39. Scales, J., A. Wennerstorm, D. Richard S. Hui Wu (2006) Language learners' perceptions of accent. TESOL Quarterly 40. 4 : 715 38.
40. Skehan, P. (1996) A framework for the implementation of task-based instruction. Applied Linguistics 17. 1 : 38 62.
41. Skehan, P. (1998) A cognitive approach to language learning. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
42. Skehan, P. (2001) Tasks and language performance assessment. In M. Bygate, P. Skehan M. Swain (eds.), Researching pedagogic tasks: second language learning, teaching and testing. Harlow : Longman, 167 86.
43. Skehan, P. P. Foster (1997) Task type and task processing conditions as influences on foreign language performance. Language Teaching Research 1. 3 : 185 212.
44. Skehan, P. (1999) The influence of task structure and processing conditions on narrative retellings. Language Learning 49. 1 : 93 120.
45. Tavakoli, P. P. Foster (2008) Task design and second language performance: the effect of narrative type on learner output. Language Learning 58. 2 : 439 73.
46. Tavakoli, P. P. Skehan (2005) Strategic planning, task structure and performance testing. In R. Ellis (ed.), Planning and task performance in a second language. Amsterdam : Benjamins. 239 77.
47. Van den Branden, K. (2006) Task-based language education: from theory to practice. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.
48. Yuan, F. R. Ellis (2003) The effects of pre-task planning and on-line planning on fluency, complexity and accuracy in L2 monologic oral production. Applied Linguistics 24. 1 : 1 27.