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Project-Based Language Learning: Projects that make them talk!

Course Summary

Are you a teacher of foreign languages or ESL? Do you struggle to motivate your students and make them talk more in class and in real-life situations?

 

Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL) is reported to increase motivation levels in students while they acquire real communicative skills in the target language in your classes. It is not uncommon that students struggle to see the real connection between foreign language classes and the authentic use of language in a way that is meaningful to them. Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL) is a teaching approach that can help them make those connections and feel more motivated to get out there and communicate in authentic situations and with real people of the target language.

 

During this course, you will gain an understanding of what PBLL is, an innovative approach that integrates language, content, and 21st-century skills by using engaging projects. This approach can be very effective in a CLIL context too. You will explore which steps and tools are best for integrating PBLL into your lessons, how to monitor and assess students and you will reflect on how you can integrate this approach into your concrete teaching practice and context. You will be presented with authentic thought-provoking ESL/EFL/FL projects and will work in teams to create your own project.

 

By the end of the course, you will be able to design and implement motivational projects for your second language classes. You will know where to find resources to reuse or adapt and will create your own sample project for your classes. You will feel more confident facilitating collaborative activities with your students and will learn how to assess projects in a way that promotes both collective and individual accountability.

Book your course

Seville (Spain)
14th-18th October 2024

Santiago (Spain)
22nd-26th July 2024

5 days Price:  400 Euros
(25 hours)
6 days Price: 480 Euros
(30 hours)

*Late fee: 60 extra euros will be charged if paid less than 8 weeks before the course.

Register your interest

Learning Outcomes

  • Define Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL)

  • Describe the benefits of PBLL

  • Brainstorm project ideas for your class

  • Use a PBLL framework to find, assess and create PBLL units.

  • Promote efficient teamwork among students

  • Apply optimal assessment methods in PBLL instruction.

  • Use efficient feedback strategies

  • Implement Social and Emotional Learning strategies to improve collaboration 

  • Apply digital technologies to facilitate PBLL

  • Create a PBLL unit for your class

Schedule

Day 1: PBL: A vintage innovation

 

-Presentations; Course Introductions

-Team building activities

-Exploring what Project-Based Learning is and what benefits does it bring to your foreign languages class.

 

Day 2: Projects that speak in tongues - Benefits and Design

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-Discover the benefits, challenges, and solutions of Project-Based Language Learning.

-The four phases that you can use to structure your PBLL unit.

-Examples of PBLL units

-Teacher personal project: PBLL unit (template provided)

 

Day 3: Assessment, Feedback and Reflection

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-Monitor and support student learning effectively throughout all your project.

-Discover the different types of assessment, feedback and reflection strategies for PBLL

-Learn about how you can implement them effectively in your classes.

-Teacher personal project: PBLL unit (template provided)

 

Day 4: SEL and technology

​-Explore free digital tools that promote collaboration

-PBL and Social and Emotional Learning go hand in hand

 -Teacher personal project: A PBLL unit (template provided)

-Critical Friends protocol (Peer feedback)

 

Day 5: Yes, you can design motivational projects!

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-Teacher personal project (time to prep)

-Participants’ presentations on their personal projects and peer feedback

-Final Reflection.

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Day 6: Cultural experience (Optional added day)

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-Day trip to discover tourist sites 

-Exchange of personal and cultural experiences

Your Trainer

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Dr. Carolina Castro

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Carolina is an experienced educator with 21 years of teaching career in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education in Europe, USA and Australia. She is a PBLL practitioner and researcher, as she has implemented projects in class for more than 8 years and her PhD thesis was on improving students' motivation using PBLL combined with digital technologies.

 

For the last 5 years, she has trained teachers from Europe, Asia and Australia, and she has collaborated with educational foundations and whole schools around the world. Carolina has a B.A. in English Language and Literature, an M.A. in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, and a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Education. Some of her topics of expertise are Project-Based Learning, Project-Based Language Learning, Social and Emotional Learning, Digital tools for education, CLIL, Life skills, Pedagogy and E-Pedagogy among others.

 

She has presented in academic conferences, professional events for teachers and doctoral seminars around the world, online and face to face. When Carolina's PhD thesis was published, it was one of the few examples in the world of a foreign languages' practitioner using PBLL together with digital technologies sharing her experience. 

Essential Info

Duration: 25 hours for the face-to-face option and if you book 6 days the total would be 30 hours.

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Certificate: A completion certificate will be provided when participants attend a minimum of 80% of the course.

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Language: The course will be facilitated in English. Participants need to have a minimum of a B1 to attend.

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Activities: Cultural activities will be included for participants in each course.

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Schedule: Sessions can take place in the morning (9h to 14h) or the afternoon (15h to 20h). The day-by-day timetable posted here is tentative, your trainer will send it to you one week before the course begins and she may change it depending on the group needs accordingly.

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Extra day add-On: All courses can have an optional extra 6th day that will be dedicated to cultural exchanges in an organised day trip excursion.

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