Integrated Supplementary Task-based Games

Abstract

This article explored the background for task-based games and how they could best fit in educational contexts tomake use of their potential benefits for language teaching and learning purposes. First, the assumptions of task-basedlanguage teaching (TBLT) and game-based learning (GBL), as the two underlying theories of task-based games,were touched upon. It was suggested that pedagogical tasks could be used as a framework for designing educationalgames. The benefits and pitfalls of implementation of TBLT and GBL were also investigated. Moreover, it wasargued that supplementary educational games that are in line with the syllabus rather than games used as the mainmeans of instruction could result in more efficient teaching and learning. Finally, task-based games were posited as apowerful educational tool to utilize the merits and to compensate for the shortcomings of TBLT and GBL.