Increasing EFL Students’ Responsibility with Learning Activities through Project Work

Carlos Augusto Toro Bustamante

doi:10.17533/udea.ikala.2719

Authors

Carlos Augusto Toro Bustamante Colegio Divino Salvador, Medellín

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.ikala.2719

Keywords:

EFL project work, responsibility, students’ confi dence, students’ interests, grouping, negotiation, learning activities, scaffolding, recycling vocabulary and structures

Abstract

This action research project highlights the increased responsibility of Grade 7 students when implementing project work in an English foreign language classroom, in a public, co-ed school in Colombia. The action research was carried out over fi ve months and the results show the positive attitudes and behavior that students displayed towards project work in class, the importance of scaffolding to students’ confi dence with class activities, and good grades with positive feedback enhancing students’ learning. Diffi culties found related to cancelled classes, and students’ negative attitudes when groups were assigned by the teacher, along with unequal group work distribution.

Received: 28-03-07 / Accepted: 05-08-07

How to reference this article:

Toro Bustamante, C. A. (2007). Increasing EFL Students’ Responsibility with Learning Activities through Project Work. Íkala. 12(1), pp. 212 – 242.

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Author Biography

Carlos Augusto Toro Bustamante, Colegio Divino Salvador, Medellín

Carlos Augusto Toro is a member of the research group EALE (Enseñanza Aprendizaje de Lenguas Extranjeras); research-in-progress: Representaciones que sobre el ideal de formación integral tienen los docentes de lenguas extranjeras de la educación básica en instituciones públicas del municipio de Medellín. Currently full-time teacher at Colegio Divino Salvador in Medellín.

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