Processing Perspectives on Task PerformancePeter Skehan Understanding how second language task-based performance can be raised is vital for progress with task-based approaches to instruction. The chapters in this volume all attempt to advance this understanding, and do so within a viewpoint which assumes limited attentional capacities and accounts for second language speaking based on Levelt's model of first language speaking. Six empirical chapters present original studies. They explore the topics of task planning, familiarity of information in a task, task repetition, task characteristics, and the effects of using post-task transcription. The studies interweave with and build upon each other, reflecting their conjoint focus on how second language learning memory and attention limitations shape their performance in using the target language. In the concluding chapter the accumulated findings across these studies are discussed in terms of the nature of preparation for a task, the role of task structure, the respective claims of the Tradeoff and Cognition Hypotheses, the role of selective attention, and the implications of the studies for pedagogy. The book is a central reference for students in psycholinguistics, second language acquisition, and task-based language teaching. |
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accuracy and complexity Applied Linguistics attentional resources Bygate Chapter Cognition Hypothesis Cohen’s complexity and accuracy Conceptualiser conceptualization contrast dependent variables effect sizes Ellis error-free clauses explore fluency focus on form Formulator Foster & Skehan Funfair grammar greater higher Hong Kong impact influence input John Benjamins Kuiken Language Teaching learners Lexical choice lexical sophistication lexis MANOVA measures Metacognitive mid-clause pausing monitoring narrative task on-line planning organisation Ortega parallel processing participants pedagogic performance areas perspective post-task activity post-task transcribing pre-task planning present study pressure processing conditions produced psycholinguistic rehearsal retrieval revision Robinson second language acquisition second language performance second language speakers Shaun the Sheep Skehan & Foster Skehan this volume speaking speech production strategic planning Studies in Second Table task complexity task conditions task performance task repetition task structure task type task-internal readiness Tavakoli tell the story There-and-then condition tion topic familiarity transcription variables vocabulary Wang Zhan Wang