Research on project-based instruction is common in mainstream education. It
conceives the activity broadly, but omits language. It is rare in English as a Second
Language (ESL) education, and Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theory conceives it
narrowly, omitting a functional view of language. The present study examines the
implementation of project-based instruction in ESL classes in a Canadian secondary school
through interviews with Canadian ESL teachers and Chinese ESL students, observations of
two projects in action, and examination of students' written work, and school, school board
and Ministry of Education documents.
Results indicate that the teachers held and implemented a broad, integrated
conception of project-based instruction that includes a functional view of language. They
have many more goals than those stressed for project-based instruction in the SLA literature,
and have goals that are not included even in the mainstream literature. The teachers evaluated
project-based instruction positively, and the researcher's observations support the teachers'
evaluations.
However, despite teacher's and students' successes, a number of students evaluated
project-based instruction negatively. This discrepancy is discussed using three explanatory
models (philosophical, cultural, and linguistic) that the participants may have been using
when interpreting project-based instruction.
The study points to the need to develop a rationale which adequately addresses
project-based instruction as a functional language learning activity in the context of academic
subject matter learning. It identifies problems of cross-cultural interpretation of and
communication about projects, and notes difficulties of resolving them. It points out the
necessity for an examination of the processes of project-based instruction, noting places of
difficulty and success, and considering promising strategies.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/9937 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Beckett, Gulbahar Huxur |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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