Enhancing Language Proficiency and Critical Thinking: Implementation of the Capstone Project in the EFL Context– Students’ Perspectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23918/ijsses.v11i4p139Keywords:
Capstone Project, English Language Teaching, Critical Thinking Skills, Self-Confidence, Undergraduate EFL StudentsAbstract
The phenomenon of presenting projects in posters, interviews, and video presentations has been widely spread among educational settings. While secondary and high schools have implemented Project-Based Learning (PBL) into their curriculum, higher education institutions still require students to write research papers upon graduation. This research study aimed to examine the initiation of the Capstone project for senior ELT students as a graduation project at Tishk International University in Erbil, Iraq. It also aimed to explore whether the project piloting is beneficial or detrimental to be implemented in the future. The study employed a mixed-method approach to obtain results from an online survey questionnaire and a face-to-face interview with a total of eight senior ELT students as a focus group. The findings of this research work revealed that respondents favored the implementation of the Capstone project for its contribution to the development and enhancement of their critical thinking skills, self-confidence, and collaboration among peers.
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