The effect of language tasks on Speaking proficiency of the Engineering students

Abstract

The present research work aims to investigate the efficacy of language tasks in enhancing the speaking skills of engineering students. The introductory chapter explains the background of the study and highlights the importance of the research. It also describes the methodology applied, hypotheses and objectives framed for this study. Moreover it discusses the reasons for lack of speaking proficiency among engineering graduates. The second chapter presents an elaborate account of the review of the research works and books related to the topic of the present study. It discusses the following topics elaborately such as communicative competence of engineering students, speaking skills for engineers, definitions of task and effective task, emergence of TBLT, second language learning theories and TBLT, and effects of using TBLT in classrooms. The extensive review of related literature will be highly beneficial for the researcher to get a clear idea about the research topic of his current study. Chapter three is about the views of students, teachers and professionals regarding speaking skills and the use of English in various contexts. The analysis of the data shows that both students and teachers are in favour of language tasks used for developing speaking skills. Most of the teachers feel that adequate importance has to be given to speaking skills in the syllabus and textbooks. As per the views of professionals, it is found that English is widely used in workplace contexts. This suggests that English speaking proficiency is essential for job seekers. The fourth chapter outlines thirty different tasks based on ten different themes for developing the speaking proficiency of the students newline