Abstract:

The power of collaboration in teamwork is fundamental to accomplish a specific goal shared by a group. Collaborative learning is a method that has different related approaches and methods. Thus, it is necessary to identify the meaning, definition and influence of collaborative learning in language teaching. This paper will firstly focus on defining the relationship between collaborative learning and the project-based instruction in language teaching. Secondly, the central elements and principles of both collaborative learning and project-based instruction will be listed and explained to further illustrate what is expected from collaborative learning through project-based instruction procedures in order to motivate students to master contents pertaining to Business English and develop different group activities to accomplish specific projects in the English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom. Finally, this paper will describe the experience of promoting collaborative learning through project-based instruction in the Integrated Business English courses at Univerisidad Nacional of Costa Rica, Campus Sarapiqui.

Keywords:

Collaborative learning, project-based instruction, English as a foreign language.