Task-based design for lecturer-student communication in teaching Xhosa as a second language

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This mini-thesis examines the features of a range of communication tasks in Xhosathat characterize lecturer-student conversations in tertiary context as regardsproblems of some individual students assuming the Task-based Theory of secondlanguage learning and teaching. The study is motivated by the need that exists forthe development of specific purposes language courses for African languages likeXhosa in South Africa in the light of the constitutional provision for multilingualismand the advancement of the African languages. The introduction of multilingualismand the advancement of the status and use of the African languages are alsospecified in the National language policy for Higher Education. In order to commenceon the kind of research on syllabus design required for quality second languagecourses for Xhosa within tertiary context the nature of lecturer-studentcommunication relating to the problems of individual students is investigated in thisstudy. The study focuses in particular on the issue of task design, i.e. the featuresposited by Pica et al (1993) relating to the interactant relationship between theparticipants, the interactant requirement (one-way or two-way), the communicationgoal orientation (i.e. convergent or divergent), and the goal outcome option (i.e. oneor several outcome options). The analysis of the Xhosa communication tasks is ofcrucial significance for syllabus design, course design and pedagogic task design fortask-based language teaching.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University