Teaching Resources
NEH Talk Series made possible by the funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (2022-2023)
Theme: Achieving authenticity in a technology-mediated task-based Chinese language course
Authentic task-based curricula are reshaping the future of world language teaching and learning in the post-methods era. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Talk Series will highlight the theoretical framework of Task-Based Language Teaching and illustrate a variety of tasks in multiple ways. The talks are designed to deepen CFL educators’ understanding of task design, implementation, assessment, and effective technology use in CFL classes. The series focuses on course design for pre-advanced Chinese and includes eight presentations: four in fall 2021 and four in spring 2022. The presentations are sequenced and interconnected in alignment with a spiral-up approach. They offer guiding principles for creating authentic curricula and authentic tasks, suited across levels.
Talk 1: Authenticity and tasks: Rationale, curriculum, and design
This presentation illuminates authenticity and tasks, the two notions that govern the design and implementation of a technology-mediated task-based language course, which will shape the future of teaching Chinese as a foreign language. The talk aims to provide an overview of curricular design, highlight syllabus essentials, and outline versatile technology tools selected to reinvigorate learning and fulfill curricular and pedagogical goals.
Talk 2: Orchestrate a thematic unit through a seamless process: Task design, implementation, and procedure
This presentation demonstrates how a thematic unit can substantiate two central notions at the heart of course design: authenticity and tasks. Specifically, it illustrates how task-based active learning is made possible through a seamless process with two essentials: 1) a three-stage daily learning cycle including pre-task, during-task, and post-task stages, and 2) a six-day learning cycle, spiraling up a sequence of tasks.
Talk 3: Authentic interactive tasks in speaking: Design, implementation, and sample work
This presentation demonstrates a wide array of speaking tasks that help learners master language functions and fulfill different pedagogical goals, procedurally and progressively. In this presentation, student-centeredness is the guiding principle for creating pedagogical and authentic tasks that maximize interaction, engagement, and active learning in a diversity of immersive and real-life settings.
Talk 4: Authentic interactive tasks in writing: Design, implementation, and sample work
This presentation introduces six types of writing tasks, with different degrees of authenticity, collaboration, and learner autonomy. This session also includes the effective principles and strategies for providing corrective feedback, including a combination of one-on-one communication, predominantly in a teacher-centered approach, and interactive discussion, conducive to cooperative learning in both process and product. With the paradigm shift to student-centered community learning, learners’ self-regulation and agency increase; these are essential for desirable outcomes.
Topic：Modeling differentiated learning in task-based design & samples
Task-based language teaching and differentiated instruction have been frequently searched and discussed for over one decade. However, how to link these two together to achieve the utmost continues to challenge many world language educators. Specifically, how tasks can be differentiated to embody the elements of differentiation: content, process, and product requires more discussion and illustration. This presentation exemplifies a series of authentic tasks that are differentiated in content, process, and product to cater to individualized readiness, interest, and needs. With 15 years of experience in teaching and research in task-based pedagogy and curricula, Dr. Tseng will demonstrate WHAT and HOW to achieve varying degrees of authenticity and differentiation and illustrate three proven samples of task design to maximize productivity and fulfill student-centered curricular and learning goals.
Topic: Open educational resources: navigating the OER Pressbooks platform for free downloads
In this presentation, the presenter reviews essentials for creating the technology-mediated task-based course and demonstrates how teachers and students can navigate and interact with the OER Pressbooks platform to download materials in seconds. The site features an all-in-one mode and allows learners to easily search for materials and receive instant feedback upon completion of tasks.