A Case Study on the Application of PBLs in a College Writing Class for Foreign Students

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop PBL teaching model in a college writing classes for foreign students and to introduce examples of applying it to teaching. J University’s college writing class is the first basic general education class that foreign students experience after they enter the regular university program. They have to acquire writing theories without being proficient in Korean, and they have to submit a considerable amount of final writing pieces. collaborative learning with other foreign students who are in the same situation helps them learn self-directed while making up for their poor writing skills. When developing a PBL teaching model, instructors should take full account of students conditions and should design the lessons after sufficient preparation. Instructors focused on improving students language skills before PBL began, on improving students writing skills after the PBL began. From the individual reflection process, it was possible to confirm that they had performed team learning with their colleagues although the problem was somewhat difficult and that the PBLs were sufficiently helpful in improving the writing skills.