Peter Skehan

Institute of Education University College London · Culture Media and Languages

This volume consists of a collection of empirical studies and research syntheses investigating the role of individual difference (ID) variables in task-based language teaching (TBLT)—a pedagogical approach that emphasizes the importance of the performance of meaning-oriented tasks in facilitating second language learning. TBLT is subject to learner...

This article reports on a study reexamining the measurement of accuracy in second language task-based performance. Three studies were re-analysed, loosely linked in research designs and experimental variables, but with standardised methods of measuring accuracy. Numerous accuracy measures were used, covering unit of measurement, error gravity, and...

This chapter explores the contrast between the effects on second language performance of tasks and task characteristics, on the one hand, and the conditions under which tasks are done, on the other. A first major section explores the evidence on this issue, and proposes that the impact of conditions, such as pre-task planning, task repetition, and...

This is an earlier version of a chapter which appeared as Skehan, P. (2015). Limited Attentional Capacity and Cognition: Two hypotheses regarding second language performance on tasks. In M.Bygate (Ed.). Domains and directions in the development of TBLT: A decade of plenaries from the international conference. (pp. 123-155) Amsterdam: John Benjamins...

This reflections chapter is based on only one reprinted article, Chapter 8, which focus on lexis and fluency. The reprinted article is discussed, particularly in relation to lexis. But the bulk of Chapter 10 is concerned with a general discussion of measures of second language task-based performance, and in particular, complexity, accuracy, and flu...

This written version of a plenary to the Language Testing Research Colloquium relates research into second language speaking task performance to language testing. A brief review of models of communicative competence and of speaking is provided. Then, two major areas within testing are discussed: the concepts of difficulty and ability for use. The n...

The focus of the book is research with second language learning tasks. The chapters are a mixture of collected articles I have written, together with commentaries on the different broad areas that are covered. The reflective commentaries provide a later perspective on the three general areas contained in the book: theory, empirical research, and pe...

This is an earlier version of the article which appeared as: Skehan, P. (2009c). Models of speaking and the assessment of second language proficiency. In A. G. Benati (Ed.), Issues in Second Language Proficiency (pp. 202-215). London: Continuum International Pub Group. Within applied linguistics, the assessment of oral second language proficiency h...

The chapter explores the relevance of second language acquisition research for language teaching practice, and reciprocally, explores the relevance of language teaching practice for second language acquisition research. It does so particularly in relation to the ideas and research of Rod Ellis. The fundamental conclusion is that the two domains nee...

The chapter explores the links between individual differences in first language development and subsequent measurements of foreign language aptitude some twelve years later. It demonstrates interesting relationships between early first language development and subsequent aptitude. The results are discussed in terms of the roots of foreign language...

The last few years have witnessed exponential growth in research output within the field of language aptitude. With contributions from an international team of leading experts, this volume provides the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date overview of developments in language aptitude theory and practice. It addresses central and newly e...

The last few years have witnessed exponential growth in research output within the field of language aptitude. With contributions from an international team of leading experts, this volume provides the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date overview of developments in language aptitude theory and practice. It addresses central and newly e...

The last few years have witnessed exponential growth in research output within the field of language aptitude. With contributions from an international team of leading experts, this volume provides the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date overview of developments in language aptitude theory and practice. It addresses central and newly e...

Abstract The current volume calls for a paradigm shift of language aptitude research from its previous focus on aptitude testing to theory construction and practical applications. In this introductory chapter, we first provide a brief overview of research paradigms of language aptitude testing and theory construction in the past six decades, summar...

The last few years have witnessed exponential growth in research output within the field of language aptitude. With contributions from an international team of leading experts, this volume provides the most comprehensive , authoritative and up-to-date overview of developments in language aptitude theory and practice. It addresses central and newly...

This latest book by Prof Richard Sparks traces and summarizes the author's theoretical insights and empirical findings in the field of foreign language education. The volume explores themes such as individual differences in L1 ability and their connection to L2 aptitude and L2 achievement, L2 anxiety as an affective or cognitive variable, and the r...

It is a privilege for the two of us to have this opportunity to read this book, written by our colleague and collaborator Prof Richard Sparks, and to have the honour to write a foreword. Richard has had a distinguished career and is now Professor Emeritus of Special Education in the Mount St. Joseph University's Department of Graduate Education. Hi...

Professor Michael H. Long (1945-2021) was one of the most influential scholars in the field of second language acquisition. This volume presents a set of chapters that honour some of his key contributions in language teaching and learning. Following a bibliometric analysis of the impact of his research to the field, the volume spans topics such as...

With contributions from the world's most active aptitude researchers and teams, this edited volume provides the most comprehensive, authoritative, and updated developments in language aptitude theory and practice. The most popular language aptitude tests, including the most durable and innovative batteries, are revisited in a timely manner and re-e...

Reviews and Endorsements: "Theoretically motivated research into aptitude for second language acquisition (SLA) under different conditions of exposure, and at different stages of development and levels of proficiency, is essential for aptitude test development, and for matching learners to optimal conditions of instruction. This book provides the...

Task-based language teaching (TBLT) is an innovative approach to language teaching which emphasises the importance of engaging learners' natural abilities for acquiring language incidentally. The speed with which the field is expanding makes it difficult to keep up with recent developments, for novices and experienced researchers alike. This handbo...

This paper explores the roles of both working memory (WM) and more traditional aptitude components, such as input processing and language analytic ability in the context of foreign language learning aptitude. More specifically, the paper compares two current perspectives on language aptitude: the Stages Approach (Skehan, 2016, 2019) and the P/E Mod...

This study uses a complexity–accuracy–lexis–fluency (CALF) framework to explore performance on 2 speaking tasks: a narrative picture‐based task and an interactive decision‐making task. A preliminary aim is to compare performance on the 2 tasks, using a wide range of CALF measures to explore where scores are similar and where they are different. How...

The article addresses the need to devise assessment methods appropriate for task-based instruction in an Asian context. An initial attempt was made to use an existing (non-Chinese) system to establish the difficulty level of test tasks, and rating systems appropriate to them. This attempt, although promising, indicated a need for modifications to b...

Cambridge Core - Applied Linguistics - Task-Based Language Teaching - by Rod Ellis

Available for Pre-order Now from both Routledge homepage and Amazon etc. https://www.routledge.com/Language-Aptitude-Advancing-Theory-Testing-Research-and-Practice/Wen-Skehan-Biedron-Li-Sparks/p/book/9781138563872 Summary: Language Aptitude: Advancing Theory, Testing, Research and Practice brings together cutting-edge global perspectives on fore...

Reviews (Michael Long) "Language aptitudes are reliable predictors of rate of classroom foreign language learning and of level of ultimate attainment in naturalistic SLA. Aptitude is a central interest in the field, therefore, as reflected both in increasingly detailed analyses of the construct itself and in the development of several new aptitude...

...The International Roundtable Forum on ‘Language Aptitude’ was successfully held at the Macao Polytechnic Institute and the University of Macau between 6-9 June 2017. During the forum, most contributing authors to the current volume (except for a few who could not attend) presented their individual chapters and participated actively in the roundt...

...The International Roundtable Forum on ‘Language Aptitude’ was successfully held at the Macao Polytechnic Institute and the University of Macau between 6-9 June 2017. During the forum, most contributing authors to the current volume (except for a few who could not attend) presented their individual chapters and participated actively in the roundt...

This study investigated L2 speaking performance under three different types of task-related time pressure, with a control (Control) group narrating a video at normal playing rate, an online planning (OP) group narrating the video at a slowed playing rate, and a hybrid online planning (HOP) group which combined online planning (a slowed playing rate...

This chapter explores research into the use of tasks with advanced learners, focusing principally on the conditions under which tasks are completed, rather than covering task characteristic effects. Three main research areas are covered. First, the impact of pre-task planning is considered, followed by the role of on-line planning, the planning tha...

This entry provides an introduction to theories of complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) as a tripartite conceptualization of task-based second language performance. It locates these constructs within task-based language teaching (TBLT), gives definitions of each, and outlines measurement options in each case. The entry argues that, though CAF wa...

Foreign language (FL) aptitude generally refers to a specific talent for learning a foreign or second language (L2). After experiencing a long period of marginalized interest, FL aptitude research in recent years has witnessed renewed enthusiasm across the disciplines of educational psychology, second language acquisition (SLA) and cognitive neuros...

Cognitive Individual Differences in Second Language Processing and Acquisition contains 14 chapters that focus on the role of cognitive IDs in L2 learning and processing. The book brings together theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of cognitive IDs, as well as empirical studies that investigate the mediating role of cognitive IDs...

Foreign language (FL) aptitude generally refers to a specific talent for learning a foreign or second language. After experiencing a long period of marginalized interest, FL aptitude research in recent years has witnessed renewed enthusiasm across multiple disciplines of educational psychology, second language acquisition (SLA) and cognitive neuros...

Becoming and Being an Applied Linguist contains narrative accounts of the lives of thirteen well-established applied linguists. Their professional autobiographies document the development of some of the key areas of applied linguistics – second, language acquisition, motivation, grammar, vocabulary, testing, second language writing, second language...

This article reports a study comparing first and second language fluency during narrative retelling tasks of varying degrees of tightness in structural organisation, exploring in particular a distinction between discourse-based and clause-based fluency. We argue that positive and negative influences on fluency are linked to the Conceptualiser and F...

CALF is an automatic analytical tool for speech (and written, if coded properly) data analyses. Developed by Gavin Bui and Peter Skehan with the generous support from RGC Hong Kong (UGC/FDS14/H01/14), CALF processes coded files and outputs a wide range of results for measures of complexity, accuracy, fluency, and lexis. The public full text here de...

This chapter explores the contrast between the effects on second language performance of tasks and task characteristics, on the one hand, and the conditions under which tasks are done, on the other. The first major section explores the evidence on this issue and proposes that the impact of conditions such as pretask planning, task repetition, and p...

This article presents a critical overview of research studies which link foreign language aptitude to grammar. It starts by covering fundamental issues—of the structure of aptitude and its measurement. It is argued that the concept of aptitude needs to be updated, and that clear linkages to second language acquisition processes need to be establish...

We review empirical studies and theoretical models on the role of WM in interpreting, emphasizing the importance of research design, specially regarding participant selection and types of WM tasks employed. Possible future research directions are discussed, such as research on WM in consecutive interpreting, coordination in simultaneous interpretin...

The Cognition and Tradeoff Hypotheses account for task performance in different ways. The former sees task complexity as the driver for higher accuracy and structural complexity whereas the latter, within the constraints of limited attentional capacities, sees performance as being accounted for through the interaction of influences from task charac...

Understanding the way in which learners differ from one another is of fundamental concern to those involved in second-language acquisition, either as researchers or teachers. This account is the first to review at book length the important research into differences, considering matters such as aptitude, motivation, learner strategies, personality a...

The concept of focus on form has been influential in second language (L2) acquisition and pedagogy. One example of the implementation of focus on form is a post-task activity (e.g., anticipation of a public performance) that can selectively orient learners toward increased levels of accuracy. The present research proposes a new operationalization o...

The literature on a task-based approach to language acquisition has grown enormously in the last three decades, as researchers have explored how the use of tasks can have an impact on second language performance and development. This line of inquiry has tried to establish how choices as to which task or task-type to use, and what conditions operate...

John (Jack) Bissell Carroll was a psychologist interested in language who had immense impact, both within his own field and also in applied linguistics.

This article reports on three research studies, all of which concern second language task performance. The first focuses on planning, and compares on-line and strategic planning as well as task repetition. The second study examines the role of familiarity on task performance, and compares this with conventional strategic planning. The third study e...

College This is an earlier version of a chapter which originally appeared in: Skehan, P. & Foster, P. (2008). Complexity, accuracy, fluency and lexis in task-based performance: A meta-analysis of the Ealing research. Many studies of second language performance, usually from within a task-based framework, use complexity, accuracy, and fluency to cap...

The present paper proposes and argues a case for incorporating the working memory (WM) construct as a component of foreign language aptitude. As such, it first briefly reviews previous research on foreign language aptitude, which lays the ground for the proposal. Then, by drawing on recent research from both the fields of cognitive psychology and s...

Resumo A re-awakening of interest in foreign language aptitude in recent years has also seen some reanalyses of the construct. Prominent in these reanalyses is revised conception of memory and aptitude, and particularly, the role of working memory. A number of studies have explored the relevance of non-word repetition tests as measures of this typ...

This excellent book presents an account of second language fluency from multiple perspectives, with a clear focus on cognitive science. Chapter 1 charts the territory. After definitional concerns, broad theoretical viewpoints are presented, such as Levelt's model of first language speaking and dynamic systems theory. Chapter 2 provides a review of...

Complexity, accuracy, and fluency have proved useful measures of second language performance. The present article will re-examine these measures themselves, arguing that fluency needs to be rethought if it is to be measured effectively, and that the three general measures need to be supplemented by measures of lexical use. Building upon this discus...

The last 20 years or so have seen a vast increase in research into second language learning tasks. A series of articles has been published by this author and co-researchers taking a cognitive approach to task performance (Foster, 2001a; Foster and Skehan, 1996, 1999; Skehan and Foster, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2007). This chapter reports on a meta-analysi...

Definitions, Terminology, and ScopeFundamental Issues and Early DevelopmentsConstraints on Interlanguage Development and TransferMethodologyInterlanguage, Transfer, and Performance ModelsPedagogy

IntroductionForeign Language AptitudeForeign Language Aptitude and SLASLA-Informed Aptitude ResearchAptitude: Conclusion Cognitive and Learning StyleLanguage Learning StrategiesMotivationIndividual Differences: Conclusions

The chapter provides a survey of research into task-based foreign language instruction, spanning the last twenty years or so. At the outset, it contextualises task research within communicative approaches to language teaching, and argues that optimistic interpretations of communicative activities as vehicles for language development lack research s...

Peter Skehan, who obtained his Ph.D. from Birkbeck College, University of London, is Professor of English at the Chinese University, Hong Kong, having previously worked at King's College, London; Thames Valley University; and the Institute of Education, London. He is interested in second language acquisition, especially individual differences in la...

In the main, second language acquisition research and the applications of technology to language learning have remained relatively separate areas, with occasional exceptions in research studies (e.g., Doughty, 1991) and book length treatments (Chapelle, 2001). This article will explore connections between technology, and especially, web-based learn...

This article is organised in five main sections. First, the sub-area of task-based instruction is introduced and contextualised. Its origins within communicative language teaching and second language acquisition research are sketched, and the notion of a task in language learning is defined. There is also brief coverage of the different and sometim...

This article explores the effects of inherent task structure and processing load on performance on a narrative retelling task. Task performance is analyzed in terms of competition among fluency, complexity, and accuracy. In a study based on 47 young adult low-intermediate subjects the fluency of performance was found to be strongly affected by degr...

The influence of cognitive processing on second language acquisition (SLA), and on the development of second language (SL) instruction, has always been a subject of major interest to both SLA researchers and those involved in SL pedagogy. Recent theoretical research into SLA and SL pedagogy has shown renewed interest in the role of cognitive variab...

This book brings together a series of empirical studies into the use of pedagogical tasks for second language learning, with a view to better understanding the structure of tasks, their impact on students, and their use by teachers. This edited volume starts with an introduction to the background and key issues in the topic area. Each section begin...

Recent research (Crookes, 1989: Foster and Skehan, 1996) has focused on the role of planning when tasks are used within language instruction. These studies have indicated that pre-task planning can have beneficial effects upon the nature of task performance, consistently leading to greater fluency and complexity and, less dependably, greater accura...

This paper examines the effects of planning and post-task activity on task-based performance. It is motivated by the need, given recent claims that task-based instruction has desirable pedagogic qualities, to investigate the effects of choosing different types of tasks, as well as different task implementation conditions, on the fluency, accuracy a...

This study focuses on the impact of different variables on the nature of language performance in the context of task-based instruction. Characteristics of tasks are discussed, and then a framework is offered that can organize the nature of task-based instruction and relevant research. The framework is used to generate predictions regarding the effe...