Innovation in Language Learning

This paper investigates the effect of Task –Based Instruction (TBI) on the development of learners’ speaking skills at the university level .It aims to examine the impact of TBI in improving learners’ communicative skills in speaking classes at Karbala University, College of Education ,Department of English (KUCEDE). Additionally, it shows the students and teacher’s perceptions of TBI in speaking classes at KUCEDE. The participants are 45 students who belong to the second stage in the English department  and they are taught by an Iraqi female teacher .In order to collect data in this study , one perception questionnaire , pre- and post-  treatment oral tests ,and  interviews  are used. The collected data from the first two tools are analyzed statistically by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences ,13.0 (SPSS) while those obtained from the third tool (interviews) are analyzed qualitatively. The researchers find out that mean scores for the control group and experimental one show positive trend in oral skill improvement . Concerning the qualitative analysis , the researchers conclude that the experimental group seems content with the treatment though they do not make significant progress in the post –test compared with the control group .The teacher’s observation shows that such treatment helps learners communicate with each other more effectively and  it improves  both their accuracy and fluency in speaking .Such results reveal that TBI is partially effective in improving students’ speaking skills and it can be viewed as an alternative teaching method that can be used more extensively and specifically with students who respond positively to TBI.

Keywords: Task-Based Instruction, speaking skills;