Enhancing English Speaking skills through project - based learning for 10 th - Grade students at Nguyen Khuyen High School: Master's Thesis

Abstract

This study examines how Project-Based Learning (PBL) can boost the English speaking abilities of 10th-grade students at Nguyen Khuyen High School. Aware that conventional speaking lessons often fall short, the researcher wanted to see if PBL could provide a more engaging, student-centered, and practical way to develop language skills. Over three months, two 10th-grade classes experienced PBL-infused lessons that matched the Global Success textbook and the revised 2018 curriculum. A mixed-methods design was employed, featuring speaking performance tests given before and after the intervention, classroom observations, teacher-created rubrics, and surveys completed by 11 English teachers to assess teaching methods and their attitudes toward the approach. “The results indicated noticeable improvement in students’ speaking performance, particularly in areas such as Grammar and Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation, and Interactive Communication.” Students became more confident, more willing to participate, and better equipped to express their ideas in English. Additionally, educators observed a rise in student engagement and acknowledged the effectiveness of project-based learning (PBL) in enhancing speaking skills, particularly for learners with lower proficiency levels. Several critical elements that facilitated the successful implementation of PBL included the selection of pertinent topics, the timely distribution of project tasks, a variety of speaking activities, regular feedback from teachers, and initiatives to promote inclusive participation within groups. The research also highlighted the importance of continuous professional development and collaboration among teachers to fully leverage the benefits of PBL. The findings suggest that PBL, when thoughtfully designed and facilitated, can serve as a powerful method for improving students' speaking skills and fostering active learning in high school English classrooms. Recommendations and implications are provided for educators and administrators interested in applying PBL in similar contexts.