Improving Pre-Service English Teachers' Native Cultural Knowledge and English Language Knowledge of Native Culture in a PBL Classroom

Purpose: Globalization underscores the importance of developing language learners' intercultural communication competence (ICC). English language teacher education nowadays thus necessitates pedagogy training on not only linguistic, but also intercultural dimensions. However, the development of PSETs' home-country cultural knowledge (HCK) and English language knowledge of home-country culture (ELKHC) has been overlooked. Given the wide application of project-based learning (PBL), this study aims to enhance Chinese PSETs' HCK and ELKHC via group projects. Top of Form Bottom of Form.Design: The study was conducted within a PSET training course involving 43 participants at a Chinese university. An intervention comprising four group projects was implemented, which required participants to utilize various technologies to showcase Chinese culture via the English language. The instructor's evaluation, students' self-evaluation, and reflective journals were collected.Findings: Quantitative analysis of the students' self-evaluations and the course instructor's evaluations demonstrated that the PSETs made significant progress in HCK and ELKHC. Qualitative analysis of students' reflective journals showed their learning experiences, gains, challenges, and solutions.Originality/value: This study highlights how PBL affords authentic learning experiences and stimulates learning motivation and autonomy. Strategies for helping learners make more progress in HCK and ELKHC via PBL are also discussed. Ultimately, we believe this study offers insights into the training and development of foreign language professionals.