Implementation of project-based learning methods in enhancing secondary students’ motivation in learning English speaking at UK Academy Ba Ria: Master of TESOL

Abstract

Being able to speak English fluently has become one of the must-haves in the skill set that a person needs to gain in order to apply for a professional position. Since the importance of this skill is well known, teaching and learning English Speaking at school has been greatly invested. Moreover, speaking skill is a difficult skill to master as it requires a lot of factors, which demand learners to invest a lot of effort to achieve. Understanding the difficulties that the students have to encounter, making an attempt to motivate them so they want to keep putting in efforts is crucial. PBL approach has emerged as a teaching and learning approach that encourages learners’ motivation to learn. This approach is expected to not only support learners to study the language, but also to feel motivated to speak the language. The objectives being addressed by employing students’ questionnaire and teachers’ interview to study their attitudes towards the approach. The results collected from the study show that the students’ and the teachers’ attitudes towards PBL were positive, and this teaching and learning approach definitely helps motivate the students to learn English Speaking at school. Even though, having PBL applied at school could be challenging for both the learners and the teachers at times.