Perceptions of Selected College Students on the Impact of Project-based Learning on their English Oral Communication Skills

Project-based Learning is an instructional method that emphasizes the purpose and meaning of communication through series of projects assigned. This study aimed to determine the perceptions of selected college students on the impact of Project-based Learning on their English oral communication skills particularly in the context of the Philippines. The study particularly employed the convergent mixed methods design to analyze the quantitative survey responses elicited from thirty-three (33) participants who were first year college students from a private institution in Manila, Philippines who at the time of data gathering, were taking a face-to-face English communication class. Out of the said participants, six (6) students were purposively invited for an online interview to generate qualitative data. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to make sense of the data gathered. The survey had four main segments with varied items on the connection between PbL and the enhancement of spoken communication skills; the interview focused on six (6) questions about the perceived impact of PbL on the development of English oral communication skills. The findings affirm that Project-based Learning is an effective technique in enhancing the English speaking skills of students. Both data sets emphasize that PbL does not only pave the way for linguistic development such as vocabulary growth, comprehension, and content knowledge, but also cultivates soft skills needed to accomplish English oral communication projects. The positive perceptions of respondents on the integration of PbL in English communication emphasizes its roles in academic and personal enhancement, which strengthen the existing literature.