A study of 21st century skills and engagement in a university Spanish foreign language classroom. (7th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cox, Carolina Benito; Montgomery, Cherice
• Is Part Of: Foreign language annals. Volume 52:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 822
• Page End: 849
• Publication Date: 2019-11-07
• Subjects: Languages, Modern -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 418.0071
• DOI: 10.1111/flan.12426
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0015-718X

Abstract

Abstract: Increasing concern regarding student disengagement and education's role in helping students to navigate the ever‐changing realities of a globalized society has focused attention on the importance of 21st century skills. This mixed‐methods study investigated whether and how intensely students experienced optimal engagement during a Spanish project that required them to conduct and reflect on a 30‐minute interview with a native speaker of Spanish. Engagement was measured through the lens of Csikszentmihalyi's (1996) flow theory. Findings revealed that authentic, real‐world tasks that require students to make use of 21st century skills and which engage learners affectively facilitate behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement. The Challenge: Students are increasingly called upon, even required, to demonstrate 21st century skills in order to succeed in our progressively globalized world. How might project‐based language learning (PBLL) help students to develop these skills? In turn, how is student engagement affected by using PBLL in the classroom?