xlviii time it will take to produce each part of the project; 5 any material or
resource they might need. 3. Time: Allocate an agreed amount of time for the project.
4. Space: show the learners the space they will have for the project, it could be wall space or a corner of the classroom, so they have some idea how much
material they should produce and can plan the layout. 5. Materials and resources: Provide the learners with materials they might need:
paper, computer, pictures and use the internet to find information for their projects.
6. Presentation: Projects need to be seen, read and admired so schedule the last project session as a presentation.
7. Evaluation: As with any piece of work a project needs to be acknowledged and evaluated. There must be a simple project evaluation report, which comments
on aspects of the project such as content, design, language work and also evaluates the oral presentation stage of the project.
d. The Advantages of Project Work
Fried-Booth 1986: 7 states that there are some advantages of project work which enable students to improve their achievement. The advantages are as
follows: 1
Helping to bridge the gap between language study and language use. 2
Making the learner responsible for his or her own learning. 3
Extending the communicative skills acquired in the classroom. 4
Offering the opportunity of using the language skills already acquired in a situation which is new, challenging and real.
5 Increasing their knowledge in the creative process and their skill in
developing their own creativity by taking part in various activities which
xlix give them ideas on how teach English using authentic materials and
teaching aids 6
Practicing their knowledge and skills in designing lesson for young learner of English.
While Haines 1989: 48 states that the advantages of project work are as follows:
1 Increasing motivation – learners become personally involved in the
project. 2
All four skills, reading, writing, listening and speaking are integrated.. 3
Autonomous learning is promoted as learners become more responsible for their own learning.
4 There are learning outcomes – learners have an end product.
5 Authentic tasks and therefore the language input are more authentic.
6 Interpersonal relations are developed through working as a group.
7 Content and methodology can be decided between learners and the teacher
and within the group themselves so it is more learner centered. 8
Learners often get help from parents for project work thus involving he parent more in the child‘s learning. If the project is also displayed parents
can see it at open days or when they pick the child up from the school. 9
A break from routine and the chance to do something different 10
A context is established which balances the need for fluency and accuracy.
f. Possible Drawbacks to Project Work
Despite having the benefits, project work also has weaknesses when it is applied in teaching language. There are some drawbacks to project work as stated
by Haines 1989: 50: 1 Learners using their own language. If the class are monolingual they
may use their L1 a lot it often happens anyway in young learners classes
l so one should decide whether the benefits of doing project work outweigh
this factor; 2 Some learners doing nothing. By giving more freedom to the learners one may also be giving them the freedom to do nothing If the
project is planned carefully and roles are decided at the proposal stage this is less likely to happen; 3 Groups working at different speeds. One
group may have finished the project after a couple of hours and say they have nothing to do. Remind them it is their responsibility to fill the time
allocated to project work and discuss ways they could extend the work they have already completed.
f. The Steps in Project Work Planning
