An Evaluation of Speaking Tasks: Focus on Grade Eight English Textbook
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Date
2021-03
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AAU
Abstract
The target of this study was to evaluate speaking tasks presented in Grade Eight Ethiopian
English textbook whether they are designed based on Nunan‟s (1989) components of
communicative tasks and quality of effective speaking tasks or not. The study was evaluative
research design and employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. The researcher
used content analysis as (a main tool), questionnaire and interview. The data were collected
from grade 8 textbook, teacher‟s guide and syllabus, particularly speaking tasks. Besides, 4
teachers and 70 students participated from Eshet and Dejeazmach Geneme Primary Schools
in Addis Ketema Sub City in Addis Ababa to find out the attitude of teachers and students
towards speaking tasks. Simple random sampling and available sampling were employed to
select students and teachers respectively. Additionally, to get valid information about the
tasks, task designers participated in this study. The finding revealed that the goals of the
speaking tasks were not clearly stated in students‟ textbook, but mentioned in teacher‟s
guide. Most of inputs of speaking tasks were inauthentic, and most of the input forms were
verbal. Activities seem to be closely related to the communicative goals of the task and the
input of the tasks. All speaking tasks were designed to be practiced in the form of pair work
or group work. The roles of students and teachers were mentioned in text book, and teacher‟s
guide. In short, tasks don‟t fulfill some of the relevant criteria of Nunan‟s (1989) components
of communicative tasks. Regarding goodness of speaking tasks, the activities were
motivating, meaningful, purposeful, productive, and suitable for pair or group work.
However, the tasks do not fulfill stages of tasks. Both students and teachers have positive
attitude towards the speaking tasks. Based on the findings, it is recommended that task
designers need to develop tasks through incorporating the six basic components of
communicative tasks in the learner‟s textbook when preparing the materials. Hence, some
activities need modification in order to be more applicable to the goal and input of tasks.
Material designers need to consider different ways of presenting speaking tasks while
designing
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Grade Eight Ethiopian English textbook