THE ROLE OF TASK-BASED LANGUAGE TEACHING (TBLT) IN DEVELOPING CRITICAL THINKING AND PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE

Nasimova Khilola Zoir kizi (Master's student of the MA TESOL program, Webster University (branch in Samarkand))

International Journal of Literature and Language Studies
Vol. 5 No. 6 (2026): International Journal of Literature and Language Studies

This academic article comprehensively analyzes the role of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) in developing critical thinking skills and pragmatic competence among English as a Foreign or Second Language learners. Viewed through the lenses of modern psycholinguistic and sociocultural frameworks, the study examines how structured, goal-oriented tasks activate high-level cognitive processes by requiring learners to solve problems, analyze information, and make decisions. Furthermore, using a synthesis of established international literature, the paper demonstrates how target tasks create naturalistic communicative environments that foster the appropriate and contextual use of language, thereby systematically enhancing learners' pragmatic abilities.