jAL (print) issn - jAL (online) issn - Journal of Applied Linguistics Research note The integration of language and content: action research based on a theory of task design Alan Jones and Samantha Sin 1 Introduction In 2001–2002, we were funded to integrate the teaching of selected generic skills with the teaching of accounting content in a irst year accounting unit. Integrated materials were collaboratively designed, trialed in semester 2, 2002, and evaluated immediately aterwards. he new materials were presented as an integral, assessable component of the syllabus. he intervention produced a marked improvement in student learning (Sin and Jones, 2003), which was assessed using objective criteria combining considerations of content and expression. he materials were essentially adaptations of the task-types used in communicative language teaching and testing, designed to ensure that students focused on content rather than form. We hypothesized that, if form is driven by meaning, an improvement in language proiciency would accompany improved understanding of content, both achievable through a sustained focus on mean- ing. his note briely outlines the kinds of task used and results obtained. jAL vol ()  – ©, equinox publishing Affiliations and acknowledgement Both authors: Macquarie University, Australia. Corresponding author: Alan Jones, Department of linguistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. Email: ajones@ling.mq.edu.au Acknowledgement: We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Centre for Flexible Learning, as well as funding and much other support from the National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research and the Division of Economic and Financial Studies, all of Macquarie University. We especially thank the Department of Accounting and Finance for its ongoing cooperation and encouragement.