SHARPENING 21ST CENTURY SKILLS THROUGH PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN ESP

Offering a conceptual idea, this paper aims at discussing how project-based learning (PBL) can be implemented in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classes in order to sharpen students’ 21 st -century skills and also to enhance their reading and speaking skills. Along with the development of ICT, the ways the students learn are also shifted. Our students, who belong to the 21 st -century learners, are also expected to be endowed with certain skills which make them able to compete in the professional world after they graduate. The 21 st -century skills are among others the 4C which stands for Critical thinking & problem solving, Creativity and innovation, Communication and Collaboration. In light of this, this paper argues that project-based learning is deemed suitable to become an approach in designing and conducting ESP classes to develop students’ reading and speaking skills as well as their 4C. By applying PBL, students will have opportunities to learn English contextually through some projects that are designed to match their future working field. In addition, this paper provides some practical ideas that can be implemented in a PBL-based ESP class. Keywords: 21 st -century skills, Project-Based learning, English for Specific Purposes, reading, speaking