Speaker
Description
This session explores how cultural celebration projects can transform English classrooms into active learning communities that build real-world language competencies. The session introduces a classroom-based example known as the International Booth Project, originally implemented with university learners. In this project, students work collaboratively to interview international partners and share cultural knowledge through interactive booths, creating meaningful opportunities for communication beyond the textbook.
The session demonstrates how combining interviews, creative tasks, and structured reflection supports the development of practical language skills, collaboration, and learner confidence. Particular attention is given to how community interaction—within student groups and with international participants—helps learners engage with English in authentic and purposeful ways.
The second part of the session focuses on practical classroom design. Participants will be guided through a clear project framework that includes step-by-step tasks and shared student roles. This structure is especially effective in reducing speaking anxiety, as it provides a safe and predictable environment for language practice while encouraging learner agency and responsibility.
The session concludes by introducing simple reflection tools that help learners recognise growth in language use, intercultural awareness, and transferable 21st-century competencies. Participants will leave with concrete, classroom-ready ideas for building inclusive learning communities and supporting students in developing the skills needed for meaningful communication beyond the classroom.
Keywords
Project-based learning
Community-based language learning
Intercultural communication
21st-century skills
Short summary
This session explores how cultural celebration projects build real-world language competencies through community-based learning. Using the International Booth Project as an example, the session shows how interviews, collaborative tasks, and interactive booths create authentic communication beyond the textbook. Attention is given to clear project structures that reduce speaking anxiety and support learner agency. Participants will gain practical ideas for building inclusive classroom communities and developing learners’ communication skills, intercultural awareness, and confidence.
Abstract
This session explores how cultural celebration projects can transform English classrooms into active learning communities that build real-world language competencies. The session introduces a classroom-based example known as the International Booth Project, originally implemented with university learners. In this project, students work collaboratively to interview international partners and share cultural knowledge through interactive booths, creating meaningful opportunities for communication beyond the textbook.
The session demonstrates how combining interviews, creative tasks, and structured reflection supports the development of practical language skills, collaboration, and learner confidence. Particular attention is given to how community interaction—within student groups and with international participants—helps learners engage with English in authentic and purposeful ways.
The second part of the session focuses on practical classroom design. Participants will be guided through a clear project framework that includes step-by-step tasks and shared student roles. This structure is especially effective in reducing speaking anxiety, as it provides a safe and predictable environment for language practice while encouraging learner agency and responsibility.
The session concludes by introducing simple reflection tools that help learners recognise growth in language use, intercultural awareness, and transferable 21st-century competencies. Participants will leave with concrete, classroom-ready ideas for building inclusive learning communities and supporting students in developing the skills needed for meaningful communication beyond the classroom.
| Scheduling preference | Anytime on Saturday |
|---|---|
| Title | Culture, Confidence, and Communication in the EFL Classroom |