Pre-Service English-as-a-Foreign-Language Teachers’ Views on Their Experiences of Project Preparation for Young Learners: “I Felt Like a Real Teacher”

Abstract

This study targets unveiling junior pre-service English-as-a-foreign-language teachers’ (N = 80) perceptions of the process they went through as preparing projects for young learners and their views about the effect of project-based learning on teaching English to young learners. The data gathered from a qualitative survey and semistructured interviews were analyzed using an inductive content analysis. The results indicated that while the participants encountered a number of difficulties in the preparation process, they believed the use of project-based learning could promote young learners’ English language learning, and preparing projects for young learners made them feel like a real teacher.

Keywords

English language learning initial English language teacher training programs pre-service English-as-a-foreign-language teachers project-based learning teaching English to young learners

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Beckett

G. H

. (2002). Academic language and literacy socialization through project-based instruction. Journal of Asian-Pacific Communication, 15(1), 191–206.

Bell

. (2010). Project-based learning for the 21st century: Skills for the future. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 83(2), 39–43.doi:10.1080/00098650903505415

Chanlin

L. J

. (2008). Technology integration applied to project‐based learning in science. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 45(1), 55–65.doi:10.1080/14703290701757450

Chen

S.-Y.

Lai

C.-F.

Lai

Y.-H.

Y.-S

. (2019). Effect of project-based learning on development of students’ creative thinking. International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Education, 11, 1–19.doi:10.1177/0020720919846808

Choi

Lee

J.-H.

Kim

. (2019). How does learner-centered education affect teacher self-efficacy? The case of project-based learning in Korea. Teaching and Teacher Education, 85(3), 45–57.doi:10.1016/j.tate.2019.05.005

Creswell

J. W

. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research methods. Pearson.

Debski

Gruba

. (1999). A qualitative survey of tertiary instructor attitudes towards project-based call. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 12(3), 219–239.doi:10.1076/call.12.3.219.5715

Diffily

. (2002). Project-based learning: Meeting social studies standards and the needs of gifted learners. Gifted Child Today, 25(3), 40–59.doi:10.4219/gct-2002-69

Dohn

Wagner

K. D

. (1999). Strategies and methods of teaching in contemporary higher education with reference to project work. Innovations in Education and Training International, 36(4), 285–291.doi:10.1080/1355800990360404

10.

Doppelt

. (2003). Implementation and assessment of project-based learning in a flexible environment. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 13(3), 255–272.doi:10.1023/A:1026125427344

11.

Duke

N. K.

Halvorsen

A.-L.

Strachan

S. L

. (2016). Project-based learning not just for stem anymore. Phi Delta Kappan, 98(1), 14–19.doi:10.1177/0031721716666047

12.

Gibbes

Carson

. (2014). Project-based language learning: An activity theory analysis. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 8(2), 171–189.doi:10.1080/17501229.2013.793689

13.

Gratchev

Jeng

D.-S

. (2018). Introducing a project-based assignment in a traditionally taught engineering course. European Journal of Engineering Education, 43(5), 788–799.doi:10.1080/03043797.2018.1441264

14.

Greenier

V. T

. (2020). The 10Cs of project-based learning TESOL curriculum. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 14(1), 27–36.doi:10.1080/17501229.2018.1473405

15.

Helle

Tynjälä

Olkinuora

. (2006). Project-based learning in post-secondary education – theory, practice and rubber sling Shots. Higher Education, 51(2), 287–314.doi:10.1007/s10734-004-6386-5

16.

Higher Education Board (HEB) . (2018). https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Kurumsal/egitim_ogretim_dairesi/Yeni-Ogretmen-Yetistirme-Lisans-Programlari/Ingilizce_Ogretmenligi_Lisans_Programi.pdf

17.

Hugerat

. (2016). How teaching science using project-based learning strategies affects the classroom learning environment. Learning Environments Research, 19(3), 383–395.doi:10.1007/s10984-016-9212-y

18.

Jolliffe

. (2007). Cooperative learning in the classroom. Paul Chapman Publishing.

19.

Kaldi

Filippatou

Govaris

. (2011). Project-based learning in primary schools: Effects on pupils’ learning and attitudes. Education, 39(1), 3–13.

20.

Kokotsaki

Menzies

Wiggins

. (2016). Project-based learning: A review of the literature. Improving Schools, 19(3), 267–277.doi:10.1177/1365480216659733

21.

Krajcik

J. S.

Shin

. (2014). Project-based learning. In Sawyer

R. K.

(Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of the learning sciences (pp. 275–298). Cambridge University Press.

22.

Lam

S.-F.

Cheng

R. W. Y.

Choy

H. C

. (2010). School support and teacher motivation to implement project-based learning. Learning and Instruction, 20(6), 487–497.doi:10.1016/j.learninstruc.2009.07.003

23.

Laur

. (2013). Authentic learning experiences. Routledge.

24.

Zhang

. (2015). Project-based learning in teaching translation: students’ perceptions. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer, 9(1), 1–19.doi:10.1080/1750399X.2015.1010357

25.

Y. L

. (2012). The negotiated project-based learning: Understanding the views and practice of kindergarten teachers about the implementation of project learning in Hong Kong. Education, 40(5), 473–786.

26.

Maida

C. A

. (2011). Project-based learning: A critical pedagogy for the twenty-first century. Policy Futures in Education, 9(6), 759–768.doi:10.2304/pfie.2011.9.6.759

27.

Miles

M. B.

Huberman

A. M

. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Sage Publications.

28.

Miller

E. C.

Krajcik

J. S

. (2019). Promoting deep learning through project-based learning: A design problem. Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Science Education Research, 1(1), 1–10.doi:10.1186/s43031-019-0009-6

29.

Miller

Hafner

C. A.

Fun

C. N. K

. (2012). Project-based learning in a technologically enhanced learning environment for second language learners: Students’ perceptions. E-Learning and Digital Media, 9(2), 183–195.doi:10.2304/elea.2012.9.2.183

30.

Mioduser

Betzer

. (2007). The contribution of project-based-learning to high-achievers’ acquisition of technological knowledge and skills. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 18(1), 59–77.doi:10.1007/s10798-006-9010-4

31.

Mitchell

Foulger

T. S.

Wetzel

Rathkey

. (2009). The negotiated project approach: Project-based learning without leaving the standards behind. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(4), 339–346.doi:10.1007/s10643-008-0295-7

32.

Mohamadi

. (2018). Comparative effect of project-based learning and electronic project-based learning on the development and sustained development of English idiom knowledge. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 30(2), 363–385.doi:10.1007/s12528-018-9169-1

33.

Mosier

G. G.

Bradley-Levine

Perkins

. (2016). Students’ perceptions of project-based learning within the new tech school model. International Journal of Educational Reform, 25(1), 2–15.doi:10.1177/105678791602500101

34.

Pacheco

M. A. D. L.

Florez

D. G.

Aguado

C. M. D. O.

Solano

H. L

. (2019). Does project-based learning work in different local contexts? A Colombian Caribbean case study. Educational Review, 71, 1–20.

35.

Parsons

S. A.

Metzger

S. R.

Askew

Carswell

A. R

. (2010). Teaching against the grain: One title i school’s journey toward project-based literacy instruction. Literacy Research and Instruction, 50(1), 1–14.doi:10.1080/19388070903318413

36.

Polman

J. L

. (2004). Dialogic activity structures for project-based learning environments. Cognition and Instruction, 22(4), 431–466.doi:10.1207/s1532690Xci2204_3

37.

Richards

J. C

. (2015). The changing face of language learning: Learning beyond the classroom. RELC Journal, 46(1), 5–22.doi:10.1177/0033688214561621

38.

Seman

L. O.

Hausmann

Bezerra

E. A.

Bezarre

E. A

. (2018). On the students’ perceptions of the knowledge formation when submitted to a project-based learning environment using web applications. Computers & Education, 117(4), 16–30.doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2017.10.001

39.

Silverman

Marvasti

. (2008). Doing qualitative research: A comprehensive guide. Sage Publications.

40.

Strauss

Corbin

J. M

. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Sage Publications, Inc.

41.

Tsybulsky

Gatenio-Kalush

Abu Ganem

Grobgeld

. (2020). Experiences of preservice teachers exposed to project-based learning. European Journal of Teacher Education, 43(3), 368–383.doi:10.1080/02619768.2019.1711052

42.

Vygotsky

L. S

. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.

43.

Wilhelm

Sherrod

Walters

. (2008). Project-based learning environments: Challenging preservice teachers to act in the moment. The Journal of Educational Research, 101(4), 220–233.doi:10.3200/JOER.101.4.220-233

44.

Williams

. (2017). Investigating the allocation and corroboration of individual grades for project-based learning. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 53(1), 1–9.doi:10.1016/j.stueduc.2016.10.009