Abstract:

This study aims to assure the positive influence of project-based learning and teaching focused on improving English communicative ability through publishing English newspapers. The study explores possibilities of promoting collaborative as well as independent learning atmosphere in an EFL(English as a Foreign Language) context through a cooperative project-based publishing process. The study implements the findings of a previous research about the benefits of publishing English newspapers which has been conducted at Korea Science Academy of KAIST as a student-initiated school project in a real classroom context. The class action project involves a process of selecting and planning topics and themes collecting references and materials, distributing tasks and articles, implementing learning and teaching strategies to assemble the whole work and integrating and editing the outcome. The survey shows that the publishing English Newspaper project results in facilitating learners’ positive learning attitude and academic atmosphere as well as improving general English communicative abilities. The study discusses advantages of extensive use of hand-on templates of publishing newspapers and magazines not for limited language education only but for integrated project-based general learning and teaching.

Keywords:

Project-based teaching and learning, critical and creative thinking, collaborative study, English communicative ability, integrated language education, science gifted education.