Abstract and Key Words

Abstract: English writing is an important part of high school English teaching. However, how to improve high school students’ English writing is really a tough task. This paper is aimed to address some important issues concerning the background, theories and other related aspects of task-based language teaching approach used to teach English writing. On the basis of the comparison between the traditional pedagogy and task-based language teaching, it is proposed that the adoption of task-based language teaching can help teachers achieve a better result in the practice of teaching English writing.

Key words: task-based teaching; traditional pedagogy; high school English; the teaching of English writing;

摘要：高中英语写作教学是英语教学中的重要环节。然而，如何提高学生英语写作水平是教学中的一大艰巨任务。本文的目的是探讨如何运用任务型教学模式教英语写作及其相关的背景、理论等方面的重要问题。在传统教学法和任务型语言教学比较的基础上，本文的作者提出使用任务型语言教学模式教英语写作可以帮助教师取得更好的教学效果。

关键词：任务型教学法；传统教学方法；高中英语；英语写作教学

1. Introduction
Task-based teaching is a language teaching model commonly used nowadays in English teaching, reflecting the language teaching ideas of "learning by doing". Students are encouraged to actively participate in classroom activities under this teaching model. They learn independently guided and organized by the teacher and complete language learning tasks through experiences and participation so as to develop their ability to use the target language.
In the early 1980s, communicative teaching gradually began to replace audio-lingual method.  In view of the relationship between communication and teaching issues, Wei Yonghong (2004) presented her understanding of communicative ideas, which are divided into two kinds: strong and weak. Strong communication views that language learning is the result of communication, and it is better to learn through communication; weak communication concept is to teach a language as a means of communication, and communication behavior goal is to master the language, that is, "to learn the language."
2. Backgrounds and Theoretical Basis of Task-based Teaching
2.1 Backgrounds of Task-based Teaching
 In recent years, Task-based Language Teaching has been a hot topic in English teaching research in China.
     In Prabhu’s view (1987), a task is to give students the information by thinking, so that students can regulate their own thinking processes through such activities. Prabhu divided these activities into four categories: rules center activities, form center activities, target center activities and meaning center activities. He states that teachers do not need to clearly teach students grammar rules, but instead students will be focusing on the meaning of language