An information gap task is a technique in language teaching where students are missing information necessary to complete a task or solve a problem, and must communicate with their classmates to fill in the gaps.[1] It is often used in communicative language teaching and task-based language learning. Information gap tasks are contrasted with opinion gap tasks, in which all information is shared at the start of the activity, and learners give their own opinions on the information given.[2]
One example of an information gap task is a spot-the-difference activity.[1] Another is an activity where one student is given a picture, and must describe it to another student, who creates a drawing from the description.[3] Further examples are students sharing information to complete a class timetable, and an activity where students must share information about their families and then draw each other's family trees.[3]
Testingedit
Information gap tasks are also used to test language ability. According to Underhill, these kind of tasks have the advantage that they produce concrete evidence of communicative competence, or of the lack of it, but the disadvantage of only testing the ability to communicate factual information.[4] He goes on to say that with information gap tasks, care must be taken not to create a test which tests general problem-solving ability more than language fluency.[4]
Ellis, Rod (2003). Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-442159-1.
Larsen-Freeman, Diane (2000). Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-435574-2.
Richards, Jack C.; Schmidt, Richard, eds. (2009). "Information gap". Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics. New York: Longman. p. 282. ISBN978-1-4082-0460-3.
Underhill, Nic (1987). Testing Spoken Language: A Handbook of Oral Testing Techniques. Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-31276-9.
April 12, 2024
information, task, information, task, technique, language, teaching, where, students, missing, information, necessary, complete, task, solve, problem, must, communicate, with, their, classmates, fill, gaps, often, used, communicative, language, teaching, task,. An information gap task is a technique in language teaching where students are missing information necessary to complete a task or solve a problem and must communicate with their classmates to fill in the gaps 1 It is often used in communicative language teaching and task based language learning Information gap tasks are contrasted with opinion gap tasks in which all information is shared at the start of the activity and learners give their own opinions on the information given 2 Contents 1 Examples 2 Testing 3 References 4 BibliographyExamples edit nbsp An example of a spot the difference activityOne example of an information gap task is a spot the difference activity 1 Another is an activity where one student is given a picture and must describe it to another student who creates a drawing from the description 3 Further examples are students sharing information to complete a class timetable and an activity where students must share information about their families and then draw each other s family trees 3 Testing editInformation gap tasks are also used to test language ability According to Underhill these kind of tasks have the advantage that they produce concrete evidence of communicative competence or of the lack of it but the disadvantage of only testing the ability to communicate factual information 4 He goes on to say that with information gap tasks care must be taken not to create a test which tests general problem solving ability more than language fluency 4 References edit a b Richards amp Schmidt 2009 Ellis 2003 p 86 a b Larsen Freeman 2000 p 148 a b Underhill 1987 p 32 Bibliography editEllis Rod 2003 Task Based Language Learning and Teaching Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 442159 1 Larsen Freeman Diane 2000 Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 435574 2 Richards Jack C Schmidt Richard eds 2009 Information gap Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics New York Longman p 282 ISBN 978 1 4082 0460 3 Underhill Nic 1987 Testing Spoken Language A Handbook of Oral Testing Techniques Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 31276 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Information gap task amp oldid 1032614268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
