Speaker
Description
Project-based learning in young learners' classrooms can lack clear structure and teacher support, which may discourage its use or lead to projects that prioritize product creation over meaningful language development. As education shifts away from traditional approaches, there is a growing movement toward communicative, student-centered learning that promotes the development of 21st-century skills. To meet these needs, teachers are encouraged to incorporate engaging and collaborative lessons into ESL classrooms. In the context of young learners, high-quality project-based learning requires a clear framework; however, projects often lack intentional design, scaffolding, and clearly defined goals for teachers. This workshop explores how to effectively design structured, language-focused project-based learning experiences for young learners. Participants will analyze examples of weak versus effective project-based learning and apply practical approaches to designing language-focused projects. They will also explore strategies to support project-based learning implementation to increase communication and interaction within projects. By the end of the session, participants will be able to apply a step-by-step project-based learning design framework to develop high-quality projects with intentional language use in young learners’ classrooms.
Biography
Anthony Copeland is a Senior Teacher and ESL Content Executive at ILO Preschool in Vietnam, where he provides academic leadership across five campuses and supports curriculum development, teacher training, and instructional quality assurance. With over six years of experience in education across the United States, Türkiye, Lesotho, and Vietnam, he has worked with learners of various ages and educational contexts, with a strong focus on young learners and English language development.
Anthony specializes in curriculum design, project-based learning, and communicative, student-centered teaching practices. His current work includes developing ESL curriculum and classroom resources aligned with second language acquisition principles and the Finnish schools framework, as well as designing and delivering professional development workshops for teachers. He is particularly interested in creating structured, language-focused learning experiences that promote meaningful communication, collaboration, and student engagement in early childhood and ESL classrooms.
In addition to classroom teaching, Anthony has developed self-study modules and training materials focused on teacher professional development, reflective practice, and effective instructional strategies. He is passionate about supporting educators through practical, adaptable approaches that bridge theory and classroom application. Through his workshops and curriculum work, he aims to help teachers build confidence in implementing engaging and developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young learners.
| Affiliate type | Others |
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