ENHANCING ENGLISH SKILLS THROUGH PROJECT- BASED LEARNING

TLDR

Students at Thai tertiary institutions lack sufficient language background to complete English tasks. The study examined learners’ views on using project‑based learning to apply language skills and improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Forty‑seven Information Science undergraduates worked in groups on an interdisciplinary project, and their opinions were gathered via semi‑structured interviews and qualitatively analyzed. The results indicate how an interdisciplinary project can be implemented to enhance learners’ English skills.

Abstract

One of the most critical problems in teaching and learning English at tertiary level in Thailand is students’ lack of adequate language background to carry out tasks required in studying English. In an attempt to deal with this challenging problem, the study investigated learners’ opinions about (1) the implementation of project-based learning in a language classroom to encourage learners to apply their language skills and knowledge of their specific field of study to complete a task, and (2) how project-based learning may enhance their four skills of English (i.e., listening, speaking, reading and writing). Forty-seven undergraduate students taking an English course on Information Science were required to work in groups to complete an interdisciplinary-based project. A semi-structured interview was used to elicit students’ opinions about the implementation of the project and how such a project may enhance their English skills. The interview data were qualitatively analyzed. Results of the study revealed how the interdisciplinary-based project should be implemented in a language classroom to enhance the learners’ English skills.