An “onboard training through English” program has been implemented at Oshima National College of Maritime Technology since 2007, by which college students carry out essential shipboard operations in English. To improve the program, a “content-based blended learning” approach has been taken since 2008. This paper will present the “content-based blended learning” approach for improving the students’ communicative competence in English. The “onboard training through English” program should be regarded as a productive output activity integrated with other two learning experience: communicative classroom activities and self-learning with e-learning materials. “Task-based instruction”, which was introduced as a classroom activity this year, will be presented. Effectiveness of the integration of different learning methods at ifferent learning stages will be discussed.
blended learning
content-based instruction
task-based instruction