contents acknowledgementsxvi introduction1 part 1 background 1.language use, holistic activity and second language learning7 2.holistic tasks in an educational context: some key issues18 3.holistic tasks in a research context: some key issues37 4.tasks in second language pedagogy51 5.defining pedagogic tasks: issues and challenges62 6.engaging learning processes: implications for the use of second language tasks71 7.researching second language pedagogic tasks82 part 2 interactions between research and practice 8.task research from a pedagogical perspective133 9.pedagogic perspectives on second language tasks192 part 3 exploring tasks 10.research directions233 part 4 resources 11.further resources267 references277 name index291 subject index295