THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING TASK-BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING IN IMPROVING ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN AKOKO SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ONDO STATE

ABSTRACT Task-based language teaching has been noted to have a marked effect on the proficiency of students in English language. Therefore, this study assessed the effectiveness of using task-based language teaching in improving English proficiency in Akoko South West Local Government, Ondo State. The study employed the use of a descriptive research survey to assess the views of 4 teachers and 223 students from the selected secondary school in Akoko South West Local Government, Ondo State, through the use of a structured questionnaire and a purposive sampling technique. The findings of the study revealed that the current level of English language proficiency among students in the selected secondary schools in Akoko Southwest local government, Ondo State is considerably high as most of the students performed very well in the language proficiency test, task-based language teaching is utilized in the teaching of English language proficiency of students in the selected secondary schools in Akoko Southwest local government, Ondo State to a considerable extent and task-based language teaching has helped to improve the English language proficiency of students in the selected secondary schools in Akoko Southwest local government, Ondo State. Thus, the study recommended that government through the relevant educational agencies such as the Ministry of Education should advocate for improvement of the English language teaching syllabus such that task-based language learning approach will be placed among the topmost approaches towards teaching English language as this will further help to improve the learning of understanding of the English language among students, teachers should encourage language learning for students through teaching students with the use of task-based language learning on a regular basis as this will create a framework of practice for from which students will improve their language skills and students should be opened and motivated towards accepting and participating in task-based language learning as in so doing, it will further enhance their level of understanding of the English language which will promote their proficiency of the language as well as their communicative skills and academic performance.