Developing Projects for the Language ClassroomDeveloping Projects for

the Language ClassroomMichael Stout

Toyo Gakuen University, Tokyo Japan

Teachers Helping Teachers SeminarsLao American College, Vientiane, Laos

25 March 2008

Michael Stout Toyo Gakuen University, Tokyo Japan

Teachers Helping Teachers Seminars

Lao American College, Vientiane, Laos25 March 2008

OutlineOutline Characteristics of Project Work Models for implementing project work Types of Projects Example Projects Participants design a project outline Participants present their project

outlines Summary and conclusion

Characteristics of Project Work Models for implementing project work Types of Projects Example Projects Participants design a project outline Participants present their project

outlines Summary and conclusion

Primary Characteristics of Project workPrimary Characteristics of Project work

Focuses on content learning rather than on specific language targets.

Student centred Cooperative rather than competitive. Integrated skills Culminates in an end product Motivating

Focuses on content learning rather than on specific language targets.

Student centred Cooperative rather than competitive. Integrated skills Culminates in an end product Motivating

Stoller (1997)

Models for Implementing Project Work

Models for Implementing Project WorkStoller

1. Agree on a theme for the project2. Determine the final outcome3. Structure the project4. Prepare students for the language demands of

step 55. Gather information6. Prepare the students for the language

demands of step 77. Compile and analyze information8. Prepare students for language demands of

step 99. Present final project10. Evaluate the project

Models for Implementing Project WorkModels for Implementing Project Work

Heilman

1. Generate ideas & outline project 2. Develop a visual representation and discuss it 3. Research and written aspect to the project 4. Preparation/practice day(s)5. Present or perform project & evaluation 6. Reflection on project

Heilman & Stout (2005)

Types of ProjectsTypes of Projects

SupplementaryComplimentarySupplementaryComplimentary

Types of ProjectsTypes of Projects

Research projectsSurvey projectsProduction projectsPerformance projectsEncounter projectsCorrespondence projects

Research projectsSurvey projectsProduction projectsPerformance projectsEncounter projectsCorrespondence projects

Examples of Student WorkExamples of Student Work

Water Diary Project Shibaura Institute of Technology

Examples of Student workExamples of Student work

Social Issues Project at Kanto International H.S

Examples of Student WorkExamples of Student Work

“I researched homelessness of South Africa. … there are many causes of homelessness. About seven million people are settler from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi because of economic problem, drought, politics problem and so on ,,,,. And also in UN research, about 500 000 families have been evicted and tens of people, including children have been killed in the chaos surrounding the evictions process.My research based on official company’s research. So, these numerical values are not exact. So I think homeless in South Africa is more than research.So I think the government, agency who help homelessness, also all of the people in the world try to help the homelessness because they also have human rights.”

“I researched homelessness of South Africa. … there are many causes of homelessness. About seven million people are settler from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi because of economic problem, drought, politics problem and so on ,,,,. And also in UN research, about 500 000 families have been evicted and tens of people, including children have been killed in the chaos surrounding the evictions process.My research based on official company’s research. So, these numerical values are not exact. So I think homeless in South Africa is more than research.So I think the government, agency who help homelessness, also all of the people in the world try to help the homelessness because they also have human rights.”

Statistics in South Africa

050

100150200250300350400450

settler evicted people population

Millions

statistics

Social Issues Project at Kanto International H.S

Student Reflections: The Project OverallStudent Reflections: The Project Overall

“I learned about world problems by communicating with my friends.”

“I thought about many social problems all over the world. We have to help as much as possible to solve these problems... ”

“I thought this experience was very important and valuable for me.”

“I learned about world problems by communicating with my friends.”

“I thought about many social problems all over the world. We have to help as much as possible to solve these problems... ”

“I thought this experience was very important and valuable for me.”

Student Reflections: The Project OverallStudent Reflections: The Project Overall

“There are four things I like about the social issues project. First I could learn about homelessness in Japan. I researched homelessness in Japan. I didn’t know that ‘the BIG ISSUE’ helps them. Second I learned to do presentation. It was very difficult for me, but it was very interesting.

There are two things I didn’t like about the social project. First Homeless people’s picture was very painful… Second I didn’t like to research population, number of homeless people and so on. It was very difficultly things…

I think 1 Kaede should do the social issues project next year for these reasons. First there is not chance to know these matters. We often leftover at meal. We can eat about any times. But homeless people cannot eat satisfaction. We unconscious in general this terrible matters. So we should know this matter.”

“There are four things I like about the social issues project. First I could learn about homelessness in Japan. I researched homelessness in Japan. I didn’t know that ‘the BIG ISSUE’ helps them. Second I learned to do presentation. It was very difficult for me, but it was very interesting.

There are two things I didn’t like about the social project. First Homeless people’s picture was very painful… Second I didn’t like to research population, number of homeless people and so on. It was very difficultly things…

I think 1 Kaede should do the social issues project next year for these reasons. First there is not chance to know these matters. We often leftover at meal. We can eat about any times. But homeless people cannot eat satisfaction. We unconscious in general this terrible matters. So we should know this matter.”

ReferencesReferences

Haines, S. (1989). Projects for the EFL classroom. Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons.

Heilman, J., & Stout, M. (2005). Putting Projects into Practice. In K. Bradford-Watts, C. Ikeguchi, & M. Swanson (Eds.)

JALT2004 Conference Proceedings. Tokyo: JALT.Stoller, F. (2002). Project work: a means to promote language and content.

In J.C. Richards & W.A. Renandya (Eds.), Methodology in language teaching: an anthology of current practice (pp. 107-119). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.