Proceedings of the 38th International Academic Conference, Prague

FOCUS ON FORM IN TASK-BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING TO IMPROVE TRANSLATION SKILLS

PANACHANOK CHANWAIWIT

Abstract:

Focus on Form is one of several teaching methodologies in Task-Based Language Teaching, which mainly concentrates on communicative class setting. This study examines students’ skills in Thai to English translation after implementing Focus on Form in Task-Based Language Teaching, and the students’ feedback regarding the development of translation skills following this method. The target group was comprised of 40 third-year English-major students at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University. The experiment consisted of 5 three-hour lessons focusing on form in Task-Based Language Teaching. The data were collected through a Thai to English translation test, a Thai to English translation evaluation form and a student’s opinion questionnaire. After implementing this method, the students’ translation capabilities reached a satisfactory level of 65.16%. The students’ opinions toward the teaching method were positive. The results of this study demonstrated the benefits of employing a form-focused approach in a classroom setting, and exhibited factors that affect students’ translation capabilities.

Keywords: Translation, Task-Based Language Teaching, Form-focused instruction, Focus on Form

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2018.038.009

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