Focus on Form in Task-Based Language Teaching to Improve Translation Skills

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.

Research on Text Analysis Methods in English Translation Teaching Based on Semantic Association Network Modeling

“…In addition, literature [22] analyzed the effect of the task-based language teaching method on students' English translation ability by using 40 English majors from Rajabhat University in Chiang Mai City as the research subjects. It was found that relying on the formal focus of task-based language teaching could enhance students' Thai-English translation ability and also effectively increase their satisfaction level.…”