Improving Learner Motivation for EAP through TBLT in Tertiary Education - A Study on Higher National Diploma in Tourism Students at SLIATE

Improving the standards of English among the Sri Lankan tertiary level learners is quite a challenge for both the teachers and learners due to diverse issues such as lack of learner motivation, monotonous syllabi and the non-applicability of curriculum. The primary focus of this research was to address these issues and develop an approach using the Task Based Language Teaching method for tertiary level students who are following the Higher National Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management (HNDTHM) at Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE). It was expected that this new approach would improve the learners positive attitudes towards learning the language especially in an EAP scenario. Qualitative research method was executed where data was collected through 20 interviews conducted by the researcher to gather primary data. Finally it was comprehended that capitalizing on peer interactive learning and on tasks which are applicable to their professional scenarios motivate the learner. Further when the learners oral communicative skills are much focused than the skill of writing and reading, the level of motivation was high among these learners. Therefore it was concluded that the use of TBLT is highly appropriate in motivating the learner for EAP at tertiary level.