Session

Education and Development

Description

This study explores the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses within the Dentistry Department. The primary objective was to enhance students' language proficiency and field-specific vocabulary in dentistry through an engaging, real-world project. To achieve this, a journal titled "The Art of Dentistry" was created, serving as the central project for the course. Students were divided into teams, each responsible for researching and developing materials on various topics related to oral health. These topics included general oral hygiene, dental infections, oral checkups, cosmetic dentistry, oral anesthesia complications, and pediatric oral care. The students synthesized their research into informative pamphlets, which were then distributed to peers and the wider community to raise awareness about oral health. The project not only provided students with the opportunity to apply their English skills in a meaningful context but also allowed them to deepen their understanding of dentistry-related terminology and concepts. The collaborative nature of the project fostered teamwork and communication skills, essential for their future professional careers. Results from the study indicate that the PBL approach significantly enhanced students' engagement and proficiency in both general and specialized English. Additionally, feedback from students highlighted the effectiveness of the project in making learning more relevant and motivating. This research demonstrates the potential of PBL in ESP courses to bridge the gap between language learning and professional practice, providing a model for other disciplines seeking to integrate language education with subject specific content.

Keywords:

PBL, ESP, Dentistry, Language development, Vocabulary development

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-982-15-3

Location

UBT Kampus, Lipjan

Start Date

25-10-2024 9:00 AM

End Date

27-10-2024 6:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2024.132

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Oct 25th, 9:00 AM Oct 27th, 6:00 PM

Implementing Project-Based Learning in English for Specific Purposes: Enhancing Language Proficiency and Field-Specific Vocabulary in Dentistry

UBT Kampus, Lipjan

This study explores the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses within the Dentistry Department. The primary objective was to enhance students' language proficiency and field-specific vocabulary in dentistry through an engaging, real-world project. To achieve this, a journal titled "The Art of Dentistry" was created, serving as the central project for the course. Students were divided into teams, each responsible for researching and developing materials on various topics related to oral health. These topics included general oral hygiene, dental infections, oral checkups, cosmetic dentistry, oral anesthesia complications, and pediatric oral care. The students synthesized their research into informative pamphlets, which were then distributed to peers and the wider community to raise awareness about oral health. The project not only provided students with the opportunity to apply their English skills in a meaningful context but also allowed them to deepen their understanding of dentistry-related terminology and concepts. The collaborative nature of the project fostered teamwork and communication skills, essential for their future professional careers. Results from the study indicate that the PBL approach significantly enhanced students' engagement and proficiency in both general and specialized English. Additionally, feedback from students highlighted the effectiveness of the project in making learning more relevant and motivating. This research demonstrates the potential of PBL in ESP courses to bridge the gap between language learning and professional practice, providing a model for other disciplines seeking to integrate language education with subject specific content.