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Abstract
Information gap activities, in which participants have information unknown to others that they must share in order to complete a task, can promote language learning by maximizing opportunities for interaction and negotiation of meaning (Pica, 2005). Although all information gap activities require a meaning- and goal-focused exchange of information, not all are equally effective in promoting the kinds of meaningful, real world communication that is emphasized in prevailing definitions of task-based learning (e.g., Long, 1985; Skehan, 1998; Willis, 1996). Considerations for creating and implementing information gap activities that require productive interaction, completion of meaningful tasks, and engagement with authentic materials will be presented. The benefits of meaningful information gap activities and the integration of these activities within an existing curriculum will also be addressed. Examples adaptable to all languages and levels of instruction, including video clips of students engaging in an information gap activity, will be presented in French with English translations.