Project Work

Project work is not a new methodology. A lot of teachers have been using it in their English language lessons as an effective of teaching both the target language and its culture. However, for some teachers it is still a a new methodology.
So, why project work?

• Projects can motivate students, especially teenagers.
• Shy students have the opportunity to do great work in a group, as students with otherwise lower grades.
• Projects can teach students to work together, to be part of a group, to share.
• Projects can link to the lives of learners; they are meaningful, not just prescriptive or pedagogic.
• Projects offer an opportunity for students who are keen to move ahead. 
• Projects encourage creativity.
• Projects can intregate the 4 skills.
• Projects involve students in language learning.

Well, these are just a few reasons why project work is such a important activity. As a famous Chinese proverb says "Tell me and I forget. Show and I remember. Involve me and I understand".

The following is an example of a project work on "Human Rigths" for level 5 students:

Some of the students' projects:

Have a wonderful week!

A PROJECT WORK

I created this project work on "Teenage Tribes" for 8th grade students. I like using projects with my students for many reasons:
1. Projects allow students to use their imagination;
2. They can help develop a full range of the learners’ capabilities.
3. Projects motivate students. They offer students a way of practicing their English while having fun.
4. It is also a way to develop students' computer skills.

I wasn't really worried about language mistakes, because language accuracy wasn't really the main aim. I just wanted them to research on a teenage topic (something they really enjoy), use their imagination and have fun doing creating a powerpoint presentation on their findings!
I'll post some of their works pretty soon.



Project Work

Motivating weak students - Creating a Scrapbook

"I hate English!", "I don't need it!", "Do we really have to study it?", "What's English for ?" were my students' feelings in the beginning of the year. They belonged to a CEF class. They were sixteen-seventeen year olds who had been failing for years. This class was their last chance to complete 3º ciclo.
So, what to do with a bunch of unmotivated students?
I tried to think of something which would mix handicraft (one of their best areas!) and their (scarce!) knowledge of the English vocabulary and grammar. So, I asked them to create a Scrapbook with the following sections:

1. Personal Identification
2. My Family
3. My Friends
4. My School and my teachers
5. My daily routine
6. My hobbies
7. (Student's choice)

Well, the idea proved to be a good one, because they really got involved in it. They looked for photos, pictures, materials to create it. They were afraid they didn't know how to write their texts, but each one developed the texts according to their knowledge. I'm glad they enjoyed it!
Here are some examples:

A "Country Profile" I

According to research by the British Council, "English has official or special status in at least seventy-five countries with a total population of over two billion. English is spoken as a native language by around 375 million and as a second language by around 375 million speakers in the world. Speakers of English as a second language will soon outnumber those who speak it as a first language. Around 750 million people are believed to speak English as a foreign language. One out of four of the world's population speak English to some level of competence. Demand from the other three-quarters is increasing.



Being such an important foreign language, and so as to learn more about it, I asked my 9th grade students to choose one of those countries (see Worksheet) and create a "File" about it. Well, the results were not bad at all. See my next post...

Christmas Activities

Before Christmas, students were asked to research on "Christmas Traditions Around the World". In class, they formed groups and chose a country to research about and then presented their conclusions to their class. Some created colourful posters on the chosen countries, but "computer experts" chose different ways to present their discoveries. I'm glad they accomplished their tasks on due time and learned about other countries. GREAT!