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In:TBLT for Young Learners: Challenges, opportunities and goals
Edited by Sima Khezrlou
[Task-Based Language Teaching 21] 2026
► pp. 204–228

Chapter 10
Conducting task-based needs analysis in digital lower secondary school contexts

 | University of Innsbruck
 | Università Roma Tre
 | University of Innsbruck
 | University of Innsbruck
 | TED University
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
Conducting a task-based needs analysis (TBNA) for young learners in foreign language classrooms presents specific challenges, as young learners often lack an immediate purpose for using a foreign language. In recent years, young learners have increasingly engaged with foreign languages through digital platforms. These new avenues call for a rethinking of traditional TBNA approaches, particularly in relation to technology-mediated language use. In this chapter, we propose a tailored TBNA framework specifically designed for lower secondary education, with a focus on digital learning environments and report findings on learners’ digital skills and their technology-related as well as communicative needs, as identified through the TBNA. The framework is informed by the practical work of the Erasmus+ project OPTIMIST (“Optimizing Digital Task Implementation in School Teaching”).
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Literature review
    • Needs analysis in TBLT
    • Young learners’ needs
    • Analyzing technology-related needs in TMTBLT
  • TBNA in the OPTIMIST project
    • Background to the OPTIMIST project
    • Prior project: DIGITASK4IC
    • Context and participants of OPTIMIST
    • Procedures of information collection during the NA
      • Young learners’ digital skills and technology-related needs
      • Young learners’ communicative language needs
  • Results
    • Technology-related needs
      • Online survey with learners
      • Focus group discussion with teachers
  • Communicative needs
    • Textbook analysis
    • Learners’ diaries
    • Teacher focus groups and classroom discussions
  • Discussion and conclusion
  • Author queries
  • Acknowledgments
  • References
  • Suggestions for further reading
  • Appendix
References (51)
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Suggestions for further reading
González-Lloret, M. (2014). The need for needs analysis in technology-mediated TBLT. In M. González-Lloret & L. Ortega (Eds.), Technology-mediated TBLT: Researching technology and tasks (pp. 23–49). John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Serafini, E. J. (2021). Adapting and advancing task-based needs analysis methodology across diverse language learning contexts. In M. J. Ahmadian & M. H. Long (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of task-based language teaching (pp. 73–98). Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
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