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Linking Language, Literacy, and Learning to Life: A Step-by-Step Approach to Scaffolding Target Language Use and Community Engagement in Project-based Language Learning

Workshop Description:  The importance of actively engaging students in their own learning is well-documented by research in many fields. However, shifting toward more student-centered, community-based approaches presents many challenges—particularly in beginning courses where students’ language, literacy, and culture skills are still developing.  This workshop provides step-by-step guidance for implementing a project-based approach, including ideas for overcoming common challenges. 
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During the workshop, participants will:
  • examine characteristics of high quality PBLL projects;
  • experience interactive strategies for reading and interpreting culturally authentic texts;
  • engage with effective scaffolding for communicative tasks;
  • explore examples of successful, community-based PBLL projects;
  • envision next steps for partnering with communities to craft more compelling experiences for students in their own courses.

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Professional Articles on
​Project-based Language Learning

A list of professional articles and blog posts on community-engaged language learning, experiential learning, and project-based language learning
View the list
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Project-based Language Learning Resources

Click the buttons below to see relevant resources
PBL/PBLL:  Definitions & Explanations
Read about the 7 essential elements
PBLL Project Ideas
PBLL Entry Event Ideas
PBLL Product Examples
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Project-based Language Learning Research

A bibliography of academic research references on community-engaged language learning, experiential learning, and project-based language learning, organized alphabetically, by language, and by topic.
View the bibliography

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Pedagogical Resources

Classroom activities and techniques can be used to support various phases of project-based language learning
View the page of resources and templates
Activity Structures
  • Collaborative Groupings in PBL
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  • How to Get Kids Talking with Silent Clips

  • Inside/Outside Circles


Assessment
  • Formative Assessment in Project-based Learning (EXCELLENT ideas)

  • ​Customizable PBL Checklists in English & Spanish

  • Group Participation Evaluation Checklist (in Spanish)

  • Interpretive Reading Rubric (Novice Level)

  • K-2 Critical Thinking Rubric from BIE

  • Making Meaning Rubric:  Critical Thinking & Reading Strategies

  • Performance & Feedback Forms from Level Up Language

  • Reflection Tool:  Are Students Progressing Toward Scientific Understanding?
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  • Tuning Protocol Overview Video (Critical Friends)
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  • University of Hawai’i at Manoa Rubric Bank (for 21st Century Skills)

  • Value Rubrics


PBLL Self-Assessments


Product Ideas
  • Literary Products​

Project Management
Blank PBLL Participant Task Checklist
Project Planning
Empezar pensando en el resultado - Planning worksheet for teachers in Spanish
Escoja una pregunta motivadora - Interactive practice for teachers with self-correcting answers

Forme la pregunta motivadora - Interactive comprehension check for teachers (in Spanish)

Scaffolding Templates
Challenging Problem or Question Development

  • Ask Big Questions Conversation Guides

Choice, Voice, Decision-making, & Prioritizing Tasks​

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  • Choice Boards by Communication Mode in the Foreign Language Class
 
  • Choose Your Own Reading Activity
 
  • ​Idea Rating Sheet/Opinionnaire
 
  • ​Reading Response Choice Boards (for secondary/college) (Fiction) (Tech Version)

Design Tasks
  • Scaffolding Design Tasks (Elementary Arabic)
 
  • Scaffolding Design Tasks (Elementary Chinese)
 
  • Scaffolding Design Tasks (Elementary English)
 
  • Scaffolding Design Tasks (Elementary French)
 
  • Scaffolding Design Tasks (Elementary Spanish)
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  • Scaffolding Design Tasks (Secondary English)

​​Interview Tasks
  • Understanding the User Experience:  Tools & Techniques (2-page handout)
 
  • Interview for Empathy One-page Handout (from the Stanford Design School)
 
  • Interview for Empathy Field Guide (from the Stanford Design School)
 
  • Scaffolding Interview Tasks (Elementary Chinese)
 
  • Scaffolding Interview Tasks (Elementary English)
 
  • Scaffolding Interview Tasks (Elementary French)
 
  • Scaffolding Interview Tasks (Elementary Spanish)
 
  • Scaffolding Interview Tasks (Secondary English)

Reading Tasks (Lists of Cultural Materials in Various Languages)
  • Pre-reading
    • Anticipation Guide {Nice templates]
    • ​​Mystery Picture 
    • Picture Tic-Tac-Toe
    • Predictions (First Lines, Pictures in Wordless Books, Possible Sentences)
 
  • During Reading
    • ​Annotate or Highlight (How to Annotate a Text Infographic)
    • ​Embedded Reading
    • Group Cultural Artifacts by Theme [Padlet]
    • Graphic Organizers
      • Free Graphic Organizers for Teaching Literature & Reading from Daily teaching Tools
      • Graphic Organizer Library from Junior Scholastic
      • Graphic Organizers for Reading Comprehension Packet
      • Graphic Organizers Provided for use by the School Library System, NYC Department of Education
      • Library of Congress Analysis Worksheets & Guides (best for secondary students)
      • Sequence events
      • Venn Diagram (2, 3, with space for summary paragraph)
      • Vocabulary Word Map 
    • Journals
      • Dialectical
      • Double-entry
    • Map the Story (Story Pyramid)
    • Reader Response Stems
    • Responding to Non-fiction Template
    • ​Selective Underlining
    • Sequence (Events, Images, or Text)
    • Signal Cards
    • Sound Effects Read Aloud Activity 
    • SQ4R
    • Thesis/Proof
 
  • Interpersonal Processing
    • Academic Talk Frames to Support Language Functions (An EXCELLENT academic language toolkit by Kate Kinsella--scroll past the first few pages to see the primary content)
    • Comprehension Games
    • Concept Sort (List, Group, & Label)
    • ​Describe & Draw
    • Pattern Puzzles 
    • ​Questioning
    • Read & Retell
    • Roll & Retell (Rubric)
    • Reciprocal Teaching  (Reciprocal Teaching Student Handouts from NBSS)
    • Secondary Discourse Starters
    • ​Text Rendering Protocol 
    • ​​Think Aloud
    • Think-Pair-Share (Template) (Video)
    • Three-minute Pause
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​Reflection Tasks
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PBL in the Mirror:  Planning for Student Reflection

  • ABC Brainstorm
  • ​Compare & Contrast 
  • Compare & Contrast (with summary spaces)  (Elementary)
  • Concept Definition Map
  • Cultural Context Questions
  • Eight Methods for Reflection in Project-based Learning
  • Frayer Model
  • Lesson Closure Frame
  • Making Inferences
  • Metacognitive Activities
  • Reflect or Self-assess (I can . . . )
  • Taxonomy of Reflection
  • Three, Two, One 
  • ​​Venn Diagram (2, 3, with space for summary paragraph)

Research Tasks

  • ​Inquiry Chart (Inquiry Chart 2)
  • KWL Chart (Modified) 
  • Scaffolding Research Tasks (Elementary Chinese)
  • Scaffolding Research Tasks (Elementary English)  
  • Scaffolding Research Tasks (Elementary French)
  • Scaffolding Research Tasks (Elementary Spanish)  
  • Scaffolding Research Tasks (Secondary Chinese)
  • Scaffolding Research Tasks (Secondary English)
  • ​Three, Two, One (Reporting Sheet)

Texts Shared During the Workshop (Print)

American Alphabet (Brand Names)
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Tech Tools

Tech tools that are useful for supporting various phases of the project-based language learning process
Download the list as a PDF
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​Videos

Videos that could generate "need-to-knows" for various types of projects about global issues and social problems in various cultural contexts
Derecho a la salud
Experience Españolandia
More information
La historia de Juan
The Danger of a Single Story
Could make an interesting entry event for a project such as this one:  ​Allen, L. Q. (2004). Implementing a culture portfolio project within a constructivist paradigm. Foreign Language Annals, 37(2), 232–239. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-9720.2004.tb02196.x  
[French, missing a public audience]
The Revolutionary Optimists Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Documentary Movie HD
See also:  The Revolutionary Optimists: Teaching Children to Be Agents
D-Pan:  Waiting on the World to Change - ASL
Water is Life
Links to more split-screen videos in various languages
Border Crossing:  Poema en dos voces
Los hijos de la oscuridad
Two Women [Poem in two voices]