Application of the project-based method to develop pedagogical competence in teaching reading among pre-service teachers at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education

Abstract

The training and development of future teachers of Russian as a foreign language (RFL) with high professional competence and strong linguistic knowledge is a key objective of the teacher education program at the Faculty of Russian Language, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. This objective aligns with the national general education curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam as well as with professional standards for school teachers. In this context, it has become increasingly relevant to apply innovative methods in RFL instruction in general, and particularly in the training of second-year students enrolled in the ‘Methods of Teaching RFL’ course. The project-based learning method promotes learner autonomy, develops professional skills, enhances classroom management abilities, and strengthens students’ theoretical and practical knowledge. This study presents the results of an experiment conducted during the first semester of the current academic year involving 29 pre-service teachers. By the end of the course, more than 80% of the students had successfully completed their projects, producing professional materials such as lesson plans, lesson presentations, systems of exercises for different language skills, and theoretical preparation for the lesson.