How can Project Based Learning help English Language Learners? With nearly 10 percent of the average American classroom speaking English as their second language, we as PBL facilitators must consider whether or not this methodology is the right fit for all of our students. 

Project Based Learning vocabulary instruction is a huge component of any PBL classroom. As an experienced PBL facilitator in a classroom with many ELL students, I can profoundly say “Yes!” PBL is the right fit! Project Based Learning helps English Language Learners make deep and meaningful connections with language, content, and their communities. 

Here are just 3 ways that Project Based Learning can help your English Language Learners.

1. Purposeful Vocabulary Instruction

Project Based Learning vocabulary instruction is integrated at an authentic level that typical and traditional classrooms do not. In a classroom where students are actively engaged in solving a real-world challenge or problem, necessary academic and content-specific vocabulary flows between students, teachers, community partners, and staff. 

Academic

Academic vocabulary words are words that are used in teaching content that aren’t typically found in day-to-day language. For example, in Project Based Learning a few examples of academic vocabulary might be “community partner”, “entry event”, or “culminating event”.

It is important for students to know the meanings of these words and how to use them in the classroom, in order to be successful in communicating and carrying out tasks. 

Some helpful strategies for teaching academic vocabulary are…

1. Make a Project Based Learning vocabulary book to keep all year long for academic vocabulary and content.
2. Use Project Based Learning vocabulary posters in your classroom to help students utilize and understand these words. 

Content

Content vocabulary words are specific to a content area or lesson. For example, if we are in a Project Based Learning unit all about gardening some of our content vocabulary words might include “soil”, “compost”, or “garden”. These vocabulary words are specific to the content we are teaching and when we move to a weather-based PBL unit, my students will not be working with them regularly.

Here are a few helpful strategies for teaching content vocabulary…

1. Utilize a picture-word wall
2. Create posters for specific words in small groups and have students present those posters to teach the class the word.
3. Determine if the word even needs to be taught outside of class or if students will glean the meaning based on context.
4. Use a Project Based Learning vocabulary book for each unit or content area.

2. Real World Immersion

When I was in high school, I took three years of Spanish. My teachers were very textbook heavy and even as a good student, I found myself dreading class. I loved to learn and read and be engaged in class, but the steady stream of worksheets, textbook readings, and quizzes made me lethargic and apathetic about the concept. After 3 years of Spanish, I left knowing very little and with one phrase fluently under my belt “Lavante su cabesa por favor.” (Lift your head up please) 

When I completed my required 3 years, I decided to try something new. Anything but Spanish, I thought. As a nerdy fan of Seventh Heaven growing up, I had always been curious about sign language after Matt, the eldest brother, dated a girl who was a part of the Deaf community. So, Sign Language it was.
After just one year of high school Sign Language, I was hooked. To this day (cough) years later, I can still sign a little. What made the difference, you might ask?

Perhaps part of it was that Sign Language is more tactical, but in truth, I credit my incredibly innovative teacher. She used every opportunity to make signing a real-world experience for us. From pizza-making competitions with no voice to Q&A sessions with people from the Deaf community, she integrated real-world scenarios into everything we did. I barely remember using our text, but I remember so many connections to my life. 

Real-world immersion with language makes a huge difference in learner success. As ELL students begin to acquire their new language, it is so much more beneficial for them to practice and experience language in a Project Based Learning environment where they are solving real-world problems and interacting with people from the community.

3. Student Voice and Choice Leads to Natural Differentiation

Project Based Learning has become synonymous with opportunities for student voice and choice. When implementing Project Based Learning, giving students opportunities to drive their own learning, express their knowledge, and dive into areas of content based on interest are just a few of the ways that PBL encourages student voice and choice. 

A natural bi-product of this student led-learning is a need for facilitators to innovate and integrate natural differentiation into each unit. Below are a few examples of how these natural differentiations positively impact our ELL students. 

1. Benchmark Chunking
   1. Creates a bite size learning experience that helps ELLs feel able to accomplish their goals.
   2. Helps a unit feel small enough to tackle and takes the overwhelm out of a larger project.
   3. Gives ELL students and their facilitators multiple opportunities for conferencing and check-ins
   4. Empowers ELL students with goals and deadlines
2. Rubrics
   1. Communicates exact expectations (hopefully with samples at each level)
   2. Takes the “mystery” out of assessment for ELL students
   3. Allows ELL students to communicate their knowledge the best way that works for them, while still meeting rubric expectations
3. Feedback and Revision Opportunities
   1. Allows ELL students opportunities to practice presenting before their official event
   2. Gives English Language Learners opportunities to make adjustments and revisions before their official presentation

View my Feedback and Revision bulletin board and lesson plan here for more on feedback and revision.  

1. Protocols Allow All Voices to Be Heard
   1. Cooperative Learning structures conversations so ELL students have an opportunity to share and contribute
   2. Avoids situations, where one student takes over the conversation and ELL students, are unable to add their thought

Project Based Learning is the ideal fit for an ELL student because of the major focus on real world application and Project Based Learning vocabulary instruction. Not only will the student be immersed in meaningful dialogue and content knowledge, but they will be able to practice new vocabulary in a way that is authentic and relevant.

Convinced Project Based Learning is right for your classroom? Join my free Elementary Project Based Learning Facebook group for free professional development located in our “Guides” section.