Project-Based Learning in Chinese College English Listening and Speaking Course: From Theory to Practice

One of the most critical problems in EFL teaching is students’ lack of authentic English environment. This paper explored the necessity and implementation of project-based learning (PBL) in Chinese college English listening and speaking class. The course included a ten-week semi-structured project consisting of five stages. In this course, the students had opportunities to practice English skills while applying English to do research and complete authentic tasks. Results showed that their motivation and autonomy of learning English were enhanced, and their ability of using their knowledge to acquire, analyze, and synthesize information was improved dramatically. Therefore, PBL is a viable and flexible alternative to traditional English teaching and learning. However, problems may occur such as group management, student participation, assessment and criteria, and time distribution, which needs further research.