Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 11. Number3  September 2020                                   Pp.464-483                 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no3.29

 Full Paper PDF 

 

Integrating Project-Based Learning Strategies in the Design of an ESP Dental Vocabulary
Course for ESL Malaysian Majors
 

Iman El-Nabawi Abdel Wahed Shaalan 1, 2
1 Department of English, College of Science and Humanities
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University
Al-Kharj,  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2 College of Humanities, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

 

 

Abstract:
The current paper investigates the effectiveness of integrating Project-based Learning (PjBL) strategies in the design process of an English for Specific Purposes Course (ESP) to develop dental vocabulary at the Dentistry College, Al-Azhar University- Cairo- Egypt. The study sampled fourteen ESL dental Malaysian students whose native language is English. This process required a needs analysis to assess the students’ academic and professional needs, wants, and lacks to create a course that responds and satisfies their requirements. The study adopted a quantitative methodology where participants were exposed to a dental vocabulary pre-test/ post-test to assess their dental vocabulary background. An interview with academic experts in the field of dentistry also helped in the design of the course. In light of the needs analysis, interviews, and the vocabulary test, an ESP project-based learning strategies course was designed. The results of the study revealed the effectiveness of integrating project-based learning strategies in the ESP course to develop dental vocabulary among ESL Malaysians. It proved that employing innovative strategies in the dental vocabulary classroom fostered the learners’ self- autonomy, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
Keywords: Dental vocabulary, English for specific purposes (ESP), ESL Malaysian majors, needs analysis, project-based learning (PjBL)

Cite as: Shaalan, I. E.A. (2020). Integrating Project-Based Learning Strategies in the Design of an ESP Dental Vocabulary Course for ESL Malaysian Majors. Arab World English Journal11 (3) 464-483.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no3.29

References:

Anthony, L. (1997). English for specific purposes: What does it mean? Why is it different? Retrieved from http://www.antlab.sci.waseda.ac.jp/abstracts/ESParticle.html

Autodesk Foundation (1999). Kids who know and do. Program for the 7th Annual Conference on Project-Based Learning, San Francisco. San Rafael: Autodesk Foundation. http://www.autodesk.com/foundation/

Beare, K. (2012). How many people learn English globally? Retrieved from http://esl. about, com/od/English learning resources/f/f_eslmarket.Htm

Belcher, D. (2006). English for specific purposes: Teaching to perceived needs and imagined futures in worlds of work, study, and everyday life. TESOL Quarterly4(1), 133-156. https://doi.org/10.2307/40264514

Blachowicz, C.L., & Fisher, P. (2005). Integrated vocabulary instruction. Learning point associates. Retrieved from http://.learninggpt.org

Bradley- Levine, J., et al (2010). What teachers and administrators need to know about project-based learning implementation? Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Denver, Colorado.

Baumgartner, E., & Zabin, C. (2008). A case study of project-based instruction in the ninth grade: A semester-long study of intertidal biodiversity. Environmental Educational Research, 14(2), 97-114. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504620801951640

Bell, S. (2010). Project-based learning for the 21st century: Skills for the future. The Clearing House83(2), 39–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/00098650903505415

Beneke, S., (2000). Implementing the project approach in part-time early childhood education programs. Early Childhood Research and Practice, 2(1). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26390877

Blumenfeld, P. C., et al (1991). A Motivating project-based learning: Sustaining the doing, supporting the learning. Educational Psychologist26(3 & 4), 369-398.

Bowen, E. R. (2009). Student engagement and Its relation to quality work design: A review of the literature. Action Research Exchange, 2(1). Retrieved from htt://artofeducating.com/-library/classroom

Bransford, J. D., & Stein, B. S. (1993). The IDEAL Problem Solver (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company.

Brown, J. S., Collins, A., & Duguid, P. (1989). Situated cognition and the culture of learning. Educational Researcher 19(1), 32-42.

Brush, T., & Saye, J. (2000). Implementation and evaluation of a student-centered learning unit: A case study. Educational Technology Research & Development48(3), 79-100.

Clark, Ann-Marie (2006). Changing classroom practice to include the project approach. Early  Childhood Research and Practice 8(2). eric.ed.gov. id=EJ1084959

Coffey, B. (1985). English for specific purposes. In V. Kinsella, (Ed.), Cambridge Language Surveys (Vol, 3, pp. 78-93). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Dewey, J. (1986). Experience and education. The Educational Forum. 50(3), 241-252.

Dovey, T. (2006). What purposes, specifically? Re-thinking purposes and specificity in the

context of the “new vocationalism”. English for Specific Purposes, 25 (4), 387-402.

DOI: 10.1016/j.esp.2005.10.002

Dodge, B. (1998). WebQuests: A Strategy for scaffolding higher-level learning. Paper presented at the National Educational Computing Conference, San Diego, June 22-24, Retrieved  from http://web quest.sdsu.edu/necc98.htm.

Dodge, B. (1997). Some thoughts about WebQuests. Retrieved from http://www.edweb.sdsu.edu/course/edtect596/about_WebQuests.html.

Dudley-Evans, T. A. & St. John, M. J. (1998). Developments in English for Specific Purposes. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

El-Bahi, F. (1979). Psycho-metric and Measuring Human Mentality (2nd Ed.). Cairo: Dar Al-Feker Al-Araby (In Arabic).

Ewer, J. R. & Latorre, G. (1969). A Course in Basic Scientific English. London, UK: Longman.

Flowerdew, J. (1990). English for specific purposes: A selective review of the literature. English Language Teaching Journal, 44(4), 326-337. DOI:10.1093/elt/44.4.326

Flowerdew, J. & Peacock, M. (2001). Research Perspectives on English for Academic Purposes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Fortanet-Gomez, I. & Raisanen, C. A. (2009). ESP in higher European education:  Teaching language and content. English for Specific Purposes, 28 (3), 211–213. DOI:10.1016/j.esp.2009.01.002

Gordon, T. L. (2000). Identifying Ekvall’s creative climate dimensions in an elementary school classroom setting. Unpublished Master’s project, Buffalo, NY, Buffalo State College, Center for Studies in Creativity,

Grant, M.M., (2002). Getting a grip on project-based learning: Theory, cases and recommendations. Merridian: A Middle School, Computer Technologies Journal, 5(1), 1-17.

Gut, D. M. (2011). Integrating 21st Century Skills into the Curriculum. In Wan, G., & Gut, D. M. (eds.), Bringing Schools into the 21st Century (Explorations of Educational Purposes) (Vol. 13, pp. 137–157). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.

Hackett, G. (1985). The role of mathematics self-efficacy in the choice of math-related majors of college women and men: A path analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology32, 47–56.

Hall, J., & Ponton, K. (2005). Mathematics self-efficacy of college freshman. Journal of Developmental Education, 28(3), 26–33.

Hannafin, M., Hall, C., Land, S., & Hill, J. (1994). Learning in an open-ended learning environment: Assumptions, methods, and implications. Educational Technology, 34(8), 48-55.

Hannafin, M., Land, S., & Oliver, K. (1999). Open learning environments: Foundations, methods, and models. In C. Reigeluth (ed.), Instructional design theories and models, (Vol, II, pp. 115-140), Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Hannafin, M. J & Land, S. M. (2000). Technology and student-centered learning in higher education: Issues and practices. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 12, 3-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03032712

Henton, M., (1996). Adventure in the Classroom: Using Adventure to Strengthen Learning and Build a Community of Life-Long Learners. Project Adventure, Hamilton, MA. Kendall/Hunt Publishing.

Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for Specific Purposes: A Learning-Centered Approach. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Jackson, S. (2015). What I learned from an old kickboard and dental floss. Retrieved from http://remakelearning.org/tag/projectbased-learning

Javid, C. Z. (2015). English for specific purposes: Role of learners, teachers, and teaching Methodologies. European Scientific JournalESJ11(20). Retrieved from http://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/5950

Johns, A. M. & Price-Machado, D. (2001). English for Specific Purposes: Tailoring Courses to Student Needs and to the outside World. In M. Celce-Murcia (ed.), Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (pp. 43-54). Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.

Jones, B. F., Rasmussen, C. M., & Moffit, M. C. (1997). Psychology in the Classroom: A series on applied educational psychology.Real-life problem solvingA collaborative approach to interdisciplinary learning. American Psychological Association. Available at https://doi.org/10.1037/10266-000

Kennedy, C. (2001). Language Use, Language Planning, and EAP. In J. Flowerdew & M. Peacock (eds.), Research Perspectives on English for Academic Purposes (pp. 25-41). Cambridge, London: Cambridge University Press.

Lave, J. (1990). The Culture of Acquisition and the Practice of Learning. Cultural Psychology: Essays on Comparative Human Development (pp. 259-286). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Levstik, L. S., & Barton, K. C. (1997). Doing History: Investigating with Children in Elementary and Middle Schools. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Little, D. (2009). Learner Autonomy in ActionAdult Immigrants Learning English in Ireland. In F. Kjisik, P. Voller, N. Aoki, & Y. Nakata (eds.), Mapping the Terrain of Learner Autonomy: Learning Environments, Learning Communities, and Identities (pp. 50-85). Tappere, Finland: Tampere University Press.

Lorenzo, F. (2006). Teaching English for specific purposes (ESP). Retrieved from http://www.usingenglish.com/teachers/articles/teaching-english-forspecific-purposes-esp.html

Markham, T. (2011). Project-based learning: A bridge just far enough. (FEATURE ARTICLE). Teacher Librarian39(2), 38-42

Mohan, B. A. (1986). Language and Content. Reading. MA: Addison-Wesley.

Noom- ura, S. (2013). Project-based learning and ESP: A perfect match. English language teaching, 31(3), 1-7.

Pajares, F., & Miller, M. D. (1994). Role of self-efficacy and self-concept beliefs in mathematical problem solving: A path analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 86(2), 193–203. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.86.2.193

Rajeswaran, M. C. (2018). Approaches to teaching English for specific purposes (ESP) in engineering programs. IUP Journal of English Studies. Vol. XIII, No. 3

Ritz, S. (2014). Project-based learning is the conduit for progressive change. Buck Institute for Education. http://bie.org/blog/project_based_learning_conduit_progressive_change

Richards, J. (2006). Communicative Language Teaching Today. Cambridge, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Salazar, Z. E., & Carballo, C.O. (2010). Can the students in an ESP course learn new vocabulary as they review and practice it by playing a computer game? Revista de Lenguas Modernashttp://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rlm/article/view/9476

Salomon, G., & Perkins, D. N. (1996). Learning in Wonderland: What Computers Really Offer Education? In S. Kerr (ed.), Technology and the Future of Education. (pp. 111-130). NSSE Yearbook. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Stanley, T. (2012). Project-Based Learning for Gifted Students: A Handbook for the 21st-Century Classroom. Waco, Tex: Prufrock Press Inc.

Strevens, P. (1980). Teaching English as an International Language: From Practice to Principle. Oxford, New York: Pergamon Press.

Strevens, P. (1977). Special purpose language learning: A perspective. Language Teaching and Linguistic Abstracts, 10(3), 145-163. DOI:10.1017/S0261444800003402

Sysoyev, P. (2000). Developing an English for specific purposes course using a learner-centered approach; A Russian experience. The Internet TESL Journal6(3), 12-21.

Villalobos, O.A., Díaz-Ducca, J. A. (2017). ChemCourse: Design of an ESP course for chemists and chemistry students. Revista de Lenguas Modernas. DOI: 10.15517/rlm.v0i25.27693

Vygotsky, L. (1978a). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes.

Vol. 3. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Vygotsky, L., (1978b). Mind in Society: Interaction between Learning and Development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press

Watts-Taffe, S., & Truscott, D. M. (2000). Using what we know about Language and Literacy Development for ESL Students in the Mainstream Classroom Language. Language Arts, 77, 258-265.

Yetkiner, Z. E., Anderoglu, H., & Capraro, R. M. (2008). Research summary: Project-based learning in middle grades mathematics. Retrieved from htt://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSumaries/ProjectBasedLearninginMath/tabid/1570/Default.aspx

Zengin, B., Erdogan, A. R. & Akalin, S. (2007). Acquisition of Latin roots with implications for EAP. Journal of Language and Linguistics Studies, 3(1), 11-31. Retrieved from http://www.jlls.org.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Reddit
Email
StumbleUpon
Digg
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5411-7613
https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no3.29

Iman El-Nabawi Shaalan is an Assistant Professor at the College of Science and Humanities,
English Department, Prince Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz University, Saudi Arabia.
Her research interests include language teaching methodologies, approaches of teaching foreign
language skills, curriculum development and teaching methods, second and foreign language
teaching and learning, and translation. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5411-7613