Task-based teaching method is an advanced method, which absorbs all sorts of outstanding teaching methods. At the same time, it also has its own characteristics. The most prominent feature is learning by doing, and it is mainly manifested in the following aspects:
1. Students learn to communicate by finishing tasks through interactions in the target language.
2. It lays emphasis on the reality of both learning activities and learning materials.
3. The learning activities are mainly to express the significance, such as information transmission.
4. It places emphasis on the learner-centered approach.
5. It encourages students to use language in a creative way.
6. It cheers on the connection among classroom teaching activities.
Task-based language teaching method mainly has following three steps:
1. Pre-task step. It is preparations teachers do for students, which includes the preparation of language, vocabulary, grammar, sentence patterns, topic and knowledge. The purpose of this step is to make students do some related things with learning content, and let the students have a perceptual awareness and the clear purpose.
2. During-task step. It refers to the process that students perform and complete the tasks according to teacher’s instruction.
3. Post-task step. It offers students the chance to experience a process from meaning to form. After completing the tasks, students are required to report the result of tasks to the class, and surely they will surely be able to use the important language points involved in the task during the process of implementation.
In this method, the teachers assign the students tasks that involve their life experiences, communication, cooperation and creation. During the stages of accomplishing the learning tasks, the students use English and communicate with each other, and they can not only develop their oral ability but also other abilities such as leadership, decision-making and problem-solving.