The DOI matches its Crossref record; 46 of the 47 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Issues in Teachers' Reinterpretation of a Task-Based Innovation in Primary Schools
Abstract
Although task-based teaching is frequently practiced in contemporary English language teaching, it is underresearched in state school settings. This article contributes to filling this gap in the literature by using qualitative case study data to explore how a task-based innovation was implemented in three primary school classrooms in Hong Kong. Analysis of classroom observation and interview data shows how the case study teachers reinterpreted a new curriculum in line with their own beliefs and the practical challenges occurring in their school contexts. Drawing on classroom episodes, the article highlights three issues that proved problematic when the tasks were implemented: use of the mother tongue, classroom management or discipline problems, and the quantity of target language produced. Implications for the design and implementation of task-based pedagogies in primary school contexts are discussed.
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“He found that the tasks used by primary school teachers in Hong Kong often ended up as 'language practice' rather than affording opportunities for genuine communication.”
From Position paper: Moving task-based language teaching forward (2017) · cites this paper as Carless (2004)
In the citing paper
“A particular problem noted by Carless (2004) is that teachers do not always have a clear idea of what a 'task' is.”
From Position paper: Moving task-based language teaching forward (2017) · cites this paper as Carless (2004)
In the citing paper
“A related issue is the problem of control and discipline (Butler, 2005; Littlewood, 2007); Carless (2004) argues that the noise produced during speaking activities can be problematic when the local preference is for quiet and orderly classrooms.”
From Challenges in Teaching English to Young Learners: Global Perspectives and Local Realities (2014) · cites this paper as Carless (2004)
In the citing paper
“These problems are now well documented (see, for example Carless, 2004) and cannot be easily overcome.”
From Focus on form: A critical review (2016) · cites this paper as Carless, 2004
Citations
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Metadata
- Authors
- Carless, D.
- Affiliations
- Education University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Corresponding author
- Carless, David
- ORCID
- Carless, David
- Venue
- TESOL Quarterly
- Publisher
- JSTOR
- Published
- 2004-12-01
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 639
- ISSN
- 0039-8322 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2122852688
- Cited by
- 464
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 32.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- TESOL Quarterly (publishedVersion)
- Hong Kong Education Bibliographic Database (submittedVersion)
- The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Second Language Learning and Teaching
- Social Sciences › Education › English Language Learning and Teaching
- Keywords
- task-based language teaching, teacher beliefs, curriculum implementation, state schools, Hong Kong, mother tongue use, classroom management, discipline problems
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