Teaching English Language

Teaching English Language

The Comparative Effect of Task-Based and Situational Language Teaching on Learning English Military Terminology: A Study of Iranian Army Ground Forces

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of English Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22132/tel.2026.456392.1604
Abstract
In the field of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), mastering specialized vocabulary is a critical challenge. Military personnel need a precise understanding of English military terms to communicate effectively during training and operations. This study explored the effectiveness of two teaching methods—Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and Situational Language Teaching (SLT)—in improving the learning of English military terminology in the Iranian army ground forces. Sixty participants from this group were involved, divided into TBLT, SLT, and control groups, with 20 learners in each. A pretest-posttest control group design was used, employing the Quick Oxford Placement Test (QOPT) to confirm that participants were at the A2 level. The two researcher-created tests served as the pretest and posttest measures, respectively, to assess participants' knowledge of military terminology before and after the interventions. Employing two paired-sample t-tests demonstrated significant improvements in the learners in the TBLT and SLT groups from the pretest to the posttest. On the other hand, the results of two one-way ANOVAs and a post-hoc test indicated that although the three groups were homogeneous in terms of the knowledge of military terminologies at the beginning of the study, TBLT outperformed both SLT and control groups at the time of the posttest. Also, SLT was significantly superior to the control group. These findings suggest that Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and Second Language Teaching (SLT) are effective in enhancing the acquisition of military terminology can be incorporated into military English training programs to improve communication among personnel.
Keywords

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Volume 20, Issue 1
January 2026
Pages 539-572

  • Receive Date 08 May 2024
  • Revise Date 14 May 2026
  • Accept Date 13 June 2026