Anna Turula – författare

This book offers a fresh perspective on the effectiveness of task-based language teaching (TBLT), addressing the growing body of meta-studies that have examined the outcomes of TBLT pedagogies to date. A recurring theme in these meta-analyses is their inconclusive nature. This largely stems from the fact that many of the cited studies are small-scale, making their findings difficult to generalize to broader educational contexts. In response, the book advocates for a shift in focus: rather than seeking universal conclusions, it emphasizes the importance of identifying, researching, and promoting TBLT practices that have demonstrated significant success within specific local contexts. Grounded in a post-critical perspective with its affirmative stance, the book focuses on the final component of TBLT – the teaching, and, specifically, TBLT areas of exception: innovative, creative and critical practices that enhance task-based pedagogies. This is a resource for researchers, teacher educators, and practitioners who seek a more nuanced, reflective, and affirming view of language teaching that embraces complexity, celebrates local successes, and reimagines what it means for TBLT to be truly effective.

This volume looks at different ways in which research and educational practice in Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) can be linked. The chapters, contributed by academics and teachers of English, explore teacher training, material writing and sharing, course design and Open Educational Resources (OER).

The volume discusses a multitude of ways in which CALL can serve to develop and support broadly conceived issues-of background in language education. The individual chapters explore a number of areas in which CALL techniques and tools enhance language instruction. The issues reported on comprise working with mature language learners, developing civic education, ICT affordances for ESP, professional training for translators, interpreters and crowdsourcing opportunities. Other contributions center around CALL-related resources, CAPT metacompetence and blended-learning paradigms as well as exploring cultural and linguistic issues in online exchanges.

Form-Focused Instruction and the Advanced Language Learner looks at the role of FFI at higher levels of foreign language learning. It argues that – contrary to a common belief – there are aspects of grammar to be taught to the proficient FL user. While such a learner may be familiar with formal properties of different structures, (s)he still needs to focus on the semantics of target language grammar. Considering this, the book investigates the efficiency of a FFI treatment called Organic Approach Deductivised or 3-D language pedagogy, devised to teach the semantics of the English tense-and-aspect system to the advanced EFL learner. In doing so, the book takes the reader through different aspects of focus on form, looking at the semantics of the English time talk from the cognitive perspective.