The Role of Authentic Task-based Materials in Developing Business English Oral Communication Skills The Case of Ouargla University Career Centre Students

Abstract

It has become widely known fact that Business English is particularly focused on teaching skills rather than pure grammar, being primarily concerned with fluency. Also, it has been argued that the use of authentic materials in ESP teaching is very effective and beneficial. Thus, it is worth examining whether the use of authentic task-based materials in the context of business English teaching develops the acquisition of business oral communication skills or not. The present study aims at describing and investigating the effects of authentic task-based materials in developing business English students‟ oral communication skills. The hypothesis of this dissertation is that the use of authentic task-based materials will enhance business English student‟s oral communication skills. The research methodology adopted in this study is a descriptive one. It intends to describe two variables: authentic task-based materials as the presumed independent variable and students‟ business oral communication skills as the presumed dependent variable, and to identify the relationship between them. Data were gathered through students‟ questionnaire administered to a sample of 30 students and teachers‟ structured interview at the Career Center of Kasdi Merbah University of Ouargla, in order to know their attitudes about the effectiveness of using authentic task-based materials in the business English classroom, in order to test and measure our hypothesis. The results obtained from the present research paper showed that there is a positive relationship between the use of authentic task-based materials and business English oral communication skills performance. A reality that is agreed by teachers „answers to the interview. This study has certainly its limitations, but its findings revealed interesting implications. Thus, future research should be done experimentally to test out the applicability of the findings to a larger population of students.