International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World (IJLLALW) Volume 6 (2), June 2014; 42-55 Soleimani, H., et al EISSN: 2289-2737 & ISSN: 2289-3245 www.ijllalw.org 42 THE EFFECT OF PRE-PLANNING TASK WITH AND WITHOUT ILLUSTRATION ON THE FLUENCY OF IRANIAN EFL LEARNERS’ ORAL PRODUCTION Hassan Soleimani Department of Applied Linguistics, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran PO box 19395-3697 Tehran Arshia.soleimani@gmail.com Manoochehr Jafarigohar Department of Applied Linguistics, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran Maryam TavangarRanjbar (Corresponding Author) Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran ABSTRACT This study investigates the effects of pre-task planning accompanied with elicitations from illustration on speaking ability of Iranian English as foreign language (EFL) learners. The central purpose of this research was to determine the existence of any correlation between elicitations from pictures available in learning settings and the oral production of language students. To this end, we compared the fluency of 40 intermediate students’ oral productions. The intermediate level students were randomly assigned to the experimental and control group. That is, we assigned 20 students to the experimental group and 20 students to the control group class. The experimental group was located in a class furnished with posters related to the topic of discussion, while the control group discussed on the same topic of discussion with no illustrations or posters on the wall of their classroom. Several Independent sample tests were conducted to examine the hypotheses. From these data, it can be concluded that the experimental group produced more fluent language than the control group and they also have more complexity in their speaking than the control group. The results of this study can be beneficial for syllabus and material designers, teachers and learners. KEYWORDS: Task; Pre-task Planning; Fluency INTRODUCTION One of the most influential motives behind the development of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) was the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) movement in the 1980s. Among the main tenets of CLT was that natural talk or authentic communication has considerable impact on interlanguage development. Pedagogical tasks were found to be essential classroom activities which have potential to provide space for such authentic communication between learners. Therefore, such capabilities of task in providing communication rich space gave birth to TBLT.