The Impact of Task Type on Oral Performance of English Language Preparatory School Students

Abstract

In this study, the effects of narrative, descriptive and prediction-personal reaction task types with visuals on the oral performance of intermediate level English language learners were compared. The study was carried out at Gazi University Preparatory School, Research and Application Center for the Instruction of Foreign Languages with the participation of eighty five students. The students' oral exam marks based on the assessment of narrative, descriptive and prediction-personal reaction task types for each group were compared and focus-group interviews were carried out with the students in order to get in depth data on the issue. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the narrative, descriptive and prediction-personal reaction task type groups in terms of oral performance scores. However, qualitative data showed that the narrative group students felt more relaxed and free to express themselves in the assessment sessions.