The purpose of this study is to investigate how EFL teachers improve the self-directed ability of
elementary students through task-based activities in the classroom. EFL teacher agree that learners
need to improve both their communicative competence and their self-directed ability while
conducting task-based activities. In order to develop the two abilities, EFL teachers must consider
the five aspects: (1) designing their syllabus, (2) implementing their syllabus design, (3) managing
and organizing their students’ learning, (4) evaluating their students, and (5) giving counseling and
support. In particular, EFL teachers may find it difficult to improve learners’ communicative
competence and self-directed abilities by using the cultural activities listed in current English
textbooks. EFL teachers should modify these cultural activities to suit their own situations.
Here are some suggestions for EFL teachers to modify these cultural activities. First, the content
of cultural activities should be presented in English, not L1. Second, the forms of the target
language (eg, vocabulary and structures) should be explicitly presented. Third, the methods of
cultural activities should be specifically addressed. Fourth, the integration of culture and language
should take place while performing cultural activities. Fifth, cultural activities need to be divided
into input-, interaction-, and output-based activities. In a word, cultural activities are basically
meaning-focused ones, but EFL teachers should take a balanced stance while conducting the
following techniques: (1) providing both meaning- and form-focused activities; (2) asking both
yes/no-questions (or or-questions) and wh-questions; (3) developing both productive and receptive
skills of learners.