An Application of the Action-Based Approach in French Language Teaching: A Qualitative Case Study

Abstract

This research aims to develop tasks based upon projects founded on action-based approach and the application of these tasks in French Language Teaching and to reveal their influences on the reinforcement of the motivation, collaboration among students and the development of their communicational, linguistic and cultural skills. In line with this purpose, task plans in accordance with action-based approach were formed, these tasks were distributed to students in groups in order to be performed outside the school, and they were implemented under the guidance of researchers and were presented in front of an audience. Moreover, in order to reveal experiences of students during this process, informal observation and focus group interviews were conducted, products and diaries of students and that of researchers were analysed. This research is designed as a qualitative case study, which intends to investigate ignored points of the subject profoundly. In this direction, the data gathered was analysed and thematised according to the qualitative approach. Finally two main themes and twenty-two subthemes were achieved. Under the first main theme, the strengths of the projects, the output of the projects regarding students and the teaching processes take place whereas the second main theme is named as limitations of the project and difficulties due to collaborative work of groups and the milieu of the projects which were disconnected from the target language.