Benefits of Implementing Project-Based Learning in An English for Business Course

Abstract

This paper reports on the benefits of Project-based learning (PBL) for the lecturer and the students in an English for Business course at a university in Vietnam. This qualitative study employs classroom observations of how the projects are carried out and interviews with five student representatives and the lecturer about the benefits of PBL. As most research focuses on how PBL develops learners’ language and project-related knowledge, this paper points out positive effects provided by PBL for personal, professional, and notably social development, which has been understudied in current literature. The findings showed that although the development existed in all three areas, it happened with a considerable disparity in which social development was surprisingly regarded by the learners as highly valuable. Besides, the lecturer in this study pointed to the benefits gained in terms of motivation and discipline-based knowledge. Based on a wide range of benefits provided by PBL, the study provides recommendations for a better implementation of PBL in EFL/ESP education so that learners’ successful experiences in their future careers can be further supported.