Speaker
Description
In contemporary language pedagogy, fostering both linguistic proficiency and intercultural competence is crucial. This presentation introduces Project-Based Language Teaching (PBLT) as a dynamic and relevant approach to achieve these twin goals, grounded in communicative language teaching principles and constructivist learning theories. It specifically explores how educators can leverage special occasions such as Tet, Halloween, Valentine's Day, International Women's Day, and so on to design engaging projects which require students to research cultural values, collaboratively plan, and use the target language authentically for communicative purposes, such as creating presentations or performances.
The session will detail how such projects enhance vocabulary, grammar, and communicative fluency while simultaneously deepening students' understanding of cultural nuances. Sufficient evidence from classroom applications, including student work samples and project frameworks, will be shared to illustrate the efficacy of this practice. Actionable strategies for implementing similar culturally-rich projects will be showcased, with recommendations for adapting tasks for various proficiency levels and managing project logistics. The presentation concludes by advocating for PBLT as a powerful tool to make language learning more meaningful and relevant, particularly within the Vietnamese EFL context and for the VietTESOL International Convention 2025's focus on innovative teaching.
Biography
Nguyen Ngoc Thuy Trang (M.TESOL, Victoria University) has served as an English language teacher at Binh Thuan College since 2010, where she instructs students in Basic English and English for Specific Purposes. A central tenet of Ms. Trang's pedagogy is the inseparable connection between language acquisition and intercultural understanding. She believes that incorporating cultural elements, such as festivals, enriches the learning process and provides authentic contexts for language use.
Driven by the goal to simultaneously develop students' linguistic proficiency and deepen their appreciation for cultural values, Ms. Trang advocates for Project-Based Language Teaching (PBLT). She has found this approach highly effective in engaging students, as it encourages collaborative research, planning, and authentic communication around culturally significant themes. For Ms. Trang, PBLT is one of optimal methods for making language learning more meaningful and achieving these crucial twin educational aims.
This abstract, her first, arises from her enthusiasm to share these effective classroom practices. She looks forward to contributing to discussions on innovative teaching and learning from the diverse experiences of her colleagues.