Some experiences in helping pupils do projects while teaching

Project teaching is a form of teaching or a combination of teachingmethods, which, under the guidance of teachers, learners acquire knowledge andform skills through solving a project in

number

4 2.2 The problem state before the application of 3

experience

problem.

6 2.4 The effectiveness of the experience initiative 18

for educational activities, teachers, colleagues and

the schools

1 INTRODUCTION:

1.1 Reason for choosing the topic:

English is an international language that is used as the official language

of more than 53 countries and territories, used as the second language of morethan one billion people in the world Therefore, English is a special languagethat contributes to the development of the ability of all countries and help thepeople understand and move closer together In line with the evolution of the 4.0revolution, the English development strategy has become an inevitable part ofthe human strategy, a strategy for the future of every nation

The strategic objectives of foreign languages are closely linked to themajor goals of education and training, which are defined in three aspects: raisingthe people's knowledge, training human resources and fostering talents Foreignlanguages in general and English in particular have important roles and positions

in the education and training and in the development of the country It also poseschallenges for educators to create innovative ways to make English become thecommunication tool of the whole society

Project teaching has many benefits for both teachers and students Moreand more theoretical studies support the application of school-based projectteaching to encourage students to reduce dropouts, promote collaborativelearning skills, and improve academic performance

Project-based learning is a new element in the English program forelementary students There are no researches papers on this subject so mycolleagues and schools have not experienced to resolved, overcome

Project teaching is a form of teaching or a combination of teachingmethods, which, under the guidance of teachers, learners acquire knowledge andform skills through solving a project in real life, followed closely by thecurriculum, with the combination of theory and practice and the creation ofspecific products

For the above reasons, I have studied and extracted some experiences in

the teaching process into the topic: Some experience in helping pupils do projects at some primary school in Cam Thuy District.

Find out the strengths and weaknesses in the methodology, as well as inteaching projects of teachers, and then propose solutions to improve the quality

of foreign language at primary school

Research the basis of science and practical basis of teaching andlearning English in primary school Study the cause of the situation Adjust thedirection of innovation teaching and learning methods

Improve the quality of teaching and learning through projects.Determine the effectiveness and impact of stimulating learning English forprimary students through projects

1.3 Research subjects:

Object of study is how to help pupils do projects in some primaryschools in Cam Thuy District

1.4 Research Methods

In this topic, I have used the following research methods:

Theoretical research methodology: Read a number of books, referencematerials, and online literature related to the projects in the class

Survey observation: To investigate the topic deeply, I investigated thecurrent status of teaching and learning English in primary school, the interest ofstudents in the subject Interviews and tutorials for the English team, combinedwith a team of specialists and school administrators

Experimental Methods: I have been guiding pupils through projectsrelated to the content of the unit

Method of summarizing and drawing experience: After each period ofteaching using the form of teaching in the topic, I often summarize, drawexperience from each period, continue to change, renovate suitable in thefollowing lessons After each period, I have also compared, summed up to drawcommon experience

2 RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS.

2.1 Theoretical basic of the problems.

Teaching projects contributes to renovating teaching methods, changingtraining methods Teaching projects transfer from "speaking teacher" to "studentdo" Learners become problem solvers, decision makers, not passive listeners.They collaborate in groups, organize activities, conduct research, solveproblems, synthesize information, organize time and reflect on their learning.Teaching the project facilitates a variety of learning styles, using informationfrom different subjects It helps learners with the same content but can perform

in different ways Project teaching requires positive thinking to solve problems,stimulate motivation, stimulation learning Project teaching encourages the use

of higher-order thinking skills, which helps learners to better understand thelearning content Teaching the project is an important way to implement themethod of training human beings to develop comprehensively, learning alongwith the practice, combining study and scientific research.

Project teaching creates a favorable environment for learners to practiceand develop Teaching the project helps learners learn more because in mostprojects, trainees have to do exercises related to many fields Every student hasthe opportunity to work because the learning task is accessible to everyone.Students have the opportunity to try out their own abilities when participating in

a project Students are capable of thinking deeply when encountering complexproblems Participants have the opportunity to explore, evaluate, explain andsynthesize information Students are allowed to apply what they have learned,especially knowledge about science and technology When designing the outlinefor the project, the learner must imagine, outline the plans and action plans, sotheir imagination and their creativity are trained and developed Developevaluation capacity Project teaching requires a variety of forms andassessments, including teacher evaluations, student evaluations, self-assessmentand feedback Students have the opportunity to choose and control their ownlearning, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with classmates to increasetheir interest in learning Project teaching helps students to be more confidentwhen they graduate because they develop the necessary life skills: the ability tomake accurate decisions; ability to solve complex problems; ability to work wellwith others; active, flexible and creative

Teaching the project promote pupils positive, self-reliant, active andcreative They are the centers of project teaching, from the passive position toactive, so teaching the project has created conditions, while forcing students towork more actively Project teaching allows learners more autonomy in theirwork, from planning to implement projects, creating products As a result, theproject teaches self-reliance, self-reliance, responsibility, creativity and ability tosolve problems of learners

Project teaching helps learners develop communication skills Teachingprojects not only help learners acquire knowledge, but also help them improvetheir ability to cooperate, ability to communicate with others Teaching theproject promotes collaboration between students and teachers, between learners,and sometimes extends to the community

2.2 The problem state before the application of experience

Project is a new part in English textbook that project itself causesdifficulties for teachers when have been applied in the schools

Teaching the project requires a lot of time This is the biggest obstacle,

if time is not allocated or the teacher has no flexibility, then the performers must

work overtime This explains why a teaching method has many advantages such

as teaching the project is difficult to put into practice in our country

It is not possible to apply rampant school teaching but can only apply tocertain contents under the conditions allowed Project teaching can not substitutelecture methods in the transmission of theoretical knowledge or informationdissemination Project teaching is difficult to apply in primary schools

Teaching the project requires careful preparation and planning to attractlearners actively Practical and practical activities when teaching the projectrequires appropriate material and financial means

Moreover, most of schools in Cam Thuy District have been lacking ofteaching aids, especially we do not have any laboratories and function rooms

Some areas in my town, especially fishing villages, the lives of thechildren are difficult and hard, so students have not been given much attention

to the study by their family

English is a new subject and most of the members of my students'families hard know anything about the language, so most of the students onlyuse English at school

Beside, most students have little or no opportunity to communicate withpeople from English-speaking countries It is clear that they have been lack ofthe natural environment to learn English pronunciation

Besides, the time allowed for learning English in class may make manystudents lack both the natural environment and the creative environment topractice and improve English skills

2.3 The measures carried out to solve the problem.

Because pupils are the center of teaching, teaching the project shouldpay attention to the needs and interests of the pupils: the learners are directlyinvolved in choosing topics and learning contents suitable to the ability andexcitement of the pupils Project teaching is an important teaching method forimplementing student-centered teaching views Pupils actively and reliablyparticipate in various stages of the teaching process, from goal setting, planning

to project implementation, testing, adjustment, evaluation and presentation.Teachers mainly play the role of adviser encourage positive, self-reliant,responsible, creativity of learners Learners do not just listen, repeat andremember they also need to collect information from many different sourcesthen analyze, evaluate and draw their knowledge Learners not only acquireknowledge about events but also apply the theory into reality, practice problemsolving skills

A project is taught through the practical activities are consistent with theability of the learners, for this reason, teachers should plan rich and diverse

learning activities Teachers should focus on the core learning content, the core

of the program The content of the project is a combination of knowledge ofdifferent fields or subjects to solve a problem is really challenging The project

is interdisciplinary, meaning that many subjects are linked A project alsorequires knowledge of other subjects and social skills that pupils need to worktogether

Teachers should combine teamwork and personal work while guidingpupils do projects Projects are usually conducted in groups, including theassignment and collaboration among members Teamwork helps make theproduct more quality, less time consuming because it combines and promotesthe individuality of the individual Projects require collaboration skills betweenmembers, students and teachers as well as with other social forces participating

in the project As a result, activities in project teaching are highly social

Teachers should be interested in the product of the activity The projecthas varied and regular forms of evaluation Teachers and learners shouldevaluate the products The results of the project are expressed crystallized in theproduct of the learner From the time of project implementation, expected resultshave to be clarified and reviewed repeatedly Learners are able to demonstratetheir knowledge through reports and products Through products, teacher shouldpraise pupils and motivate them learning better

Here are some examples I have been applying while teaching projects insome primary schools in Cam Thuy District:

2.3.1 Class 4: Unit 8: What subjects do you have today?

Project: Ask a friend in another school about his/ her timetable and stick the table Then tell the class about it.

Procedure:

- Tell pupils that they are going to interview a friend in another school about his/her timetable and tell the class about it

- Guide pupils to do the task:

+ First, ask a friend in another school questions:

What subjects do you have on Monday/ Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday/

Friday?

I have………

+ Complete the timetable

+ Prepare to talk: For example, This is my friends’ timetable Her/ His name is… She/ He is a pupil at …… Primary School She/ He has………… on Monday…

- Ask pupils to do the task at home and bring their friend’s timetable

- Have them tell their class about their friends’ timetables in the next lesson.

- Ask other pupils to give their comments about their friends’ products

- Select the best three products and who have best presentations, then award the pupils with small prizes to motivate them

Pupil’s products

2.3.2 Class 4: Unit 15: When’s Children’s Day?

Project: Make a greeting card for Tet Then write wishes to your friend Procedure:

- Tell the pupils about the project They should make a greeting card for Tet and write wishes to your friend Explain the task clearly and check understanding

- Ask them to draw the cards for Tet After decorating the cards, they should copy the text from the book and fill in the information

- Give them time to do the task during the lesson or ask them to do it at home ifthere is not enough time Tell pupils that they will be invited to give apresentation of their work in the next class

- Ask pupils to display swap their cards in pairs

- Ask some students to show their cards and say aloud what they have written

- Select the best three cards and who have best presentations and award the pupils with small prizes.

Pupil’s cards

2.3.3 Class 4: Unit 17: How much is the T-shirt?

Projects: Make four flashcards of clothes Draw a picture of clothing item

on one side of the card and write the word for it on the other side Then practice with your partners.

Procedure:

- Tell pupils that they are going to make four flashcards of clothes

- Give each pupil four cards, explain the task clearly ( students should draw apicture of clothing item on one side of the card and write the word for it on theother side, then they should show the flashcards in pairs and talk about them)and check understanding

- Give them time to do the task during the lesson or ask them to do it at home ifthere is not enough time Tell pupils that they will be invited to give apresentation of their work in the next class

- Select the best three flashcards and who have best presentations and award the pupils with small prizes.

Flashcards of pupils

2.3.4 Class 5: Unit 2 : I always get up early How about you ?

Project: Interview two of your classmates about their daily routines.

Procedure:

- Tell pupils that they are going to interview their classmates about their daily routines and report the results to the class

- Model an interview :

+ Ask the questions :

What do you do in the mornong/ afternoon/ evening? – I always/ often

How often do you ? – Once/ Twice a day/ week

+ Report the results of the interview : Here are the results of my interview Huyen often goes to school early in the morning

- Set a time limit for them to interview their classmates and take notes.

- Ask a few pupils to report the results of their interviews to class Select who have best presentations and award the pupils with small prizes

Pupils are interviewing their friends.

2.3.5 Class 5: Unit 6 : How many lessons do you have today?

Project : Write a letter to a pen friend to talk about your timetable.

Procedure:

- Tell the class about the project and how to carry it by saying : In this project, you are going to write a letter to a pen friend to talk about your timetable.

- Have pupils work in pairs to discuss what are they going to write in the letters

- Give students time to do the task independently Go around and offer for help

if necessary

- Get students to swap their letter to correct their friends’ mistakes

- Ask some pupils to show their letter and read aloud.

- Select who have best letters and award the pupils with small prizes

A letter of a student

A letter of a student

2.3.6 Class 5: Unit 9: What did you see at the zoo?

Project: Draw your dream zoo Procedure:

- Tell the class that they are going to draw their dream zoos

- Ask them to work in groups of five to discuss what animals to put in their dream zoos

- Set a time limit for them to do the task independently

Pupils’ drawings

- Get students to show their pictures with their partners and talk to him or her.

- Have the class display their drawings Invite some students to talk to the class about their dream zoos

- Select the best three pictures and who have best presentations and award the pupils with small prizes

Pupils are talking about their dream zoo.

Pupils are talking about their dream zoo 2.3.7 Class 5: Unit 11: What’s the matter with you?

Project: Talk about two health problems and give advice

Procedure:

- Tell pupils that they are going to talk about two health problems and give advice in pairs

- Guide pupils how to do the project: Choose two health problems, then giveadvices (for example, toothache…….should go to the dentist/ brush your teethregularly/ shouldn’t eat a lot of sweets or sugary products,….).

- Give pupils time to do the task in pairs

Pupils are talking with their partners.

- Prepare some posters or draw some simple pictures for students to talk

- Have some pupils to talk in front of the class