Becoming a Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL) teacher doesn’t require you to change everything overnight. It’s about taking small, intentional steps—tiny habits—that help you create more engaging, meaningful, and dynamic learning experiences. Whether you’re just starting or revisiting your PBLL approach, these habits will guide you toward building a classroom where language comes alive.

Tiny Habit 1: Observe the World

In PBLL, inspiration can come from everyday life. Take 5 minutes today to observe your surroundings— don’t judge, just shot down what you see and hear. I live in a isolated area surrounded by hills. I see hills, rocks. Unfortunately, there has been a wildfire not that long ago so I can also see burnt trees and rocks where there used to be a forests. I can hear birds chirping and the wind blowing. The sun is shinning and there isn’t any cloud near by. Connect with your surroundings. Just 5 minutes. Take this well deserved break. what could spark a project for learners? Love to hear from you . Tell me what you can see and hear around you.

Tiny Habit 2: Craft  a Driving Question

PBLL starts with a great question! Write one today that could lead learners on an inquiry journey. Make sure it’s open-ended and sparks curiosity.  

Have you checked 🌎Tiny Habit # 1 Observe the world around you? 🌎Have you found anything that could spark a project for learners? Birds 🦅, traffic 🚙🛵, nature 🌺🌈, weather ☀️⛈️. Try to start your driving question with how could we…? to allow learners to answer the issues of learners surrounding. 

This is what I observed in my surrounding: 

I live in a isolated area surrounded by hills. I see hills, rocks. Unfortunately, there has been a wildfire not that long ago so I can also see burnt trees and rocks where there used to be a forests. I can hear birds chirping and the wind blowing. The sun is shinning and there isn’t any cloud nearby.My driving question: How could we rebuild the lost forest ? 🌳 

You can also check out the Crafting a Driving Question Guide

Tiny Habit # 3: Set a Personal PBLL Goal

When transitioning to Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL), setting personal goals can feel overwhelming. The method is rich with possibilities—authentic resources, real-world tasks, and engaging assessments—but where do you begin? Surprisingly, the answer lies in embracing fuzzy goals as your starting point.

What Are Fuzzy Goals?

Fuzzy goals are big-picture, open-ended aspirations that guide your efforts without pinning you to a specific outcome. Instead of focusing on rigid benchmarks, fuzzy goals let you explore and adapt as you grow, helping you align your intentions with the dynamic nature of PBLL.

For example, instead of saying, “I will implement two PBLL projects by next semester,” a fuzzy goal might be, “I want to make my classes more meaningful and connected to students’ lives.”

Why Fuzzy Goals Work in PBLL?

1. They Embrace Experimentation: PBLL is inherently creative. Fuzzy goals allow for trial and error, freeing you to experiment with different project ideas without feeling boxed in.

2. They Encourage Reflection: With broad goals, you naturally reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and how you can adjust.

3. They Reduce Overwhelm: Instead of aiming for perfection, you’re simply aiming for progress.

Steps to Set and Act on Fuzzy Goals

Here’s how you can turn your aspirations into action, starting with fuzzy goals and transitioning to more concrete steps:

1. Identify Your Big Picture Vision

Ask yourself: Why do I want to embrace PBLL? • Do you want to make language learning more relevant? • Are you looking to boost student engagement? • Is fostering creativity and collaboration your aim?

Write down a broad statement, such as: • “I want my students to use English in meaningful, real-world contexts.” • “I want to feel more confident designing creative language tasks.”

2. Break It into Tiny Habits

From your fuzzy goal, identify one small, actionable habit to start. These should feel so manageable that they’re almost too easy.

• Fuzzy Goal: “I want to make my classes more engaging.”

• Tiny Habit: Find one authentic resource this week to use in a lesson.

• Fuzzy Goal: “I want to use projects to connect learning to the real world.”

• Tiny Habit: Write down three potential project ideas inspired by your students’ interests.

3. Set Milestones Along the Way

Once your fuzzy goal has gained clarity through tiny habits, set small milestones to mark your progress.

• Example Milestone 1: Introduce a single PBLL-inspired activity into your next unit.

• Example Milestone 2: Design and pilot a mini-project with one class.

• Example Milestone 3: Reflect on student feedback to improve the project.

4. Reflect and Revise

PBLL thrives on iteration. Regularly revisit your fuzzy goal and ask: • What’s working well? • What challenges have I faced? • How can I adapt or pivot?

Reflection can take the form of journaling, talking with colleagues, or even gathering insights from your students.

Example of Fuzzy to Focus in Action

Let’s say your fuzzy goal is: “I want to connect learning to real-life skills.”

• Tiny Habit: Choose one theme, like “local culture,” to explore.

• Actionable Step: Design a mini-project where students create a digital travel guide for your town.

• Milestone: Complete the project with student reflections on what they learned.

By starting fuzzy and working toward clarity, you’ll build confidence, create meaningful projects, and ultimately, deepen your students’ learning experience.

The beauty of PBLL is its flexibility and creativity, but that same flexibility can feel daunting without a clear starting point. Fuzzy goals give you the freedom to begin with curiosity and adapt as you grow. Paired with tiny habits and consistent reflection, they’ll help you set a strong foundation for success.

So, take a moment to dream big, think fuzzy, and start small. Every tiny step moves you closer to becoming the PBLL teacher you aspire to be.

Tiny Habit # 4: Plan a Collaborative Activity

In Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL), collaboration isn’t just an added bonus—it’s at the heart of the learning experience! 💡 Today, let’s take a step toward fostering stronger teamwork skills in your classroom by introducing a simple 10-minute group task.

📝 How to Do It:

1️⃣ Set the Challenge: Pick a mini-challenge that aligns with your current lesson. It could be brainstorming solutions to a problem, creating a short dialogue, or building a concept map.

2️⃣ Divide and Conquer: Form small groups where every learner has a role to play. Encourage them to bring their unique strengths to the task! 🧡

3️⃣ Reflect Together: After the activity, take a few minutes to discuss what went well and what could be improved. This reflection helps students understand the value of collaboration and prepares them for bigger projects ahead.

🏆 Why It Matters:Small collaborative tasks like this one build the skills learners will need for more complex projects. It’s not just about solving a challenge—it’s about learning to communicate, negotiate, and innovate together. Step by step, you’re setting the stage for transformative, project-based learning experiences! 🚀✨

Are you ready to incorporate more collaboration into your lessons? 

Tiny Habit # 5: Ask One Open-Ended Question

Transform a simple question into an open-ended one! Instead of seeking one right answer, encourage your students to explore, investigate, and engage with multiple perspectives. In PBLL, open-ended questions fuel curiosity and deepen inquiry. 🌟

One way to help students ask better questions is the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) from the Right Question Institute. QFT empowers students to create, refine, and prioritize their own questions, fostering critical thinking and curiosity. Here are the steps:

1. Ask as many questions as possible – Encourage students to brainstorm freely.

2. Do not stop to discuss, judge, or answer questions – This keeps creativity flowing.

3. Change any statements into questions – This helps reframe thinking.

4. Improve your questions – Have students identify and improve open-ended or closed questions.

5. Prioritize questions – Students choose the most compelling ones for exploration.

✨ Tip: To turn a closed question into an open-ended one, try starting with ‘How’ or ‘Why.’ For example, instead of asking ‘Did you like the story?’ ask ‘What made the story interesting to you?’ This invites students to share their thoughts, fueling richer discussions and insights!

Tiny Habit # 6: Choose Your First Destination

Where will your PBLL journey begin? Pick one subject or topic this week and brainstorm how it could lead to a meaningful project. Choose a destination and start exploring! Here is a step by step guide to find your next project destination: 

📍Step 1: Pick a Starting Point.Select a subject or topic for your PBLL journey this week. This could be anything—from a theme in the coursebook to an issue your students bring up in class. If it connects with something already familiar, it will help to ground the project in what students are already working on.

📍Step 2: Invite Learners into the Journey.Learners are your best allies in shaping a meaningful project. Start by asking them open-ended questions: • What excites you about this topic? • What worries or concerns you? • What would you love to know or explore more?

Encourage them to reflect on how this topic connects to real-world issues or personal interests.

📍Step 3: Shape the Topic into an Engaging Destination.Together, narrow down from a general topic to a specific issue that has real-world relevance or emotional impact. The goal is to find a “destination” that will engage students in authentic communication, exploration, and problem-solving—all while learning the language.

For instance, if the topic is environmental sustainability: • Topic: “Environmental sustainability” • Issue worth exploring: “How can we make our school greener?” • Project goal: Plan and implement small, sustainable changes in the school community.

This approach transforms a broad theme into a clear, compelling destination. It provides direction while allowing students to take ownership of the project, making learning more meaningful.

📍Step 4: Let the Language Grow Organically.As they explore the topic, learners will naturally need to practice and learn language structures relevant to their project. The need to communicate, research, present ideas, and collaborate with others will create authentic opportunities for language acquisition.

By following these steps, the journey becomes a co-creation process, with both you and your students exploring a meaningful project destination together. This approach will not only engage them but also give them a sense of ownership over their learning.

Tiny Habit # 7: Pack Your Essentials

When I talk about tasks in English Language Teaching (ELT), I always say they’re like planes ✈️—they need two wings to fly. On one wing, you have the core skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. On the other, you have the 4Cs: creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Without balance, the plane won’t take off. And here’s the kicker: to truly fly means to engage your learners.

In Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL), engagement is the lift that keeps your plane soaring. It’s not just about presenting activities; it’s about creating tasks that make students want to climb aboard and stay excited for the journey. It’s about giving them wings.

Think of it this way: • Creativity sparks curiosity. Students feel excited when they can bring their own ideas to life. • Collaboration keeps them invested, as they build relationships and solve problems together. • Communication makes the experience meaningful, connecting them to the real-world purpose of language. • Critical Thinking challenges them, adding depth and making every task feel rewarding.

When your lessons balance the traditional language skills with these engaging elements, students aren’t just learning—they’re flying.

🚀 Your Mission:

Reflect on your next lesson. Ask yourself: • How can I make this task more engaging? • Does it inspire students to think, create, and connect? • Does it feel like a journey they’d want to take?

A truly engaging lesson isn’t just something students do—it’s something they experience. And when they’re engaged, they’ll soar higher than you imagined.

🛫 Ready to take off? Start packing your essentials and help your learners fly!

One TINY HABIT to becoming a PBLL teacher every week !

Welcome to this step-by-step guide, designed to help you plan effective scaffolding for Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL). Scaffolding is the bridge between your students’ current skills and the authentic, complex tasks they’ll encounter in your projects. This guide provides a clear framework to ensure your students are supported every step of the way as they engage with authentic texts and collaborate to achieve meaningful project goals.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through:

1. Choosing and Analyzing Texts – Reflect on the texts you’ve selected and determine the cognitive tasks that will help learners process and connect with the material.

2. Identifying Language Needs – Pinpoint the types of language your students will need for interpersonal communication, task completion, and content understanding.

3. Structuring Interactions – Explore engaging activities and protocols that foster interpersonal interaction and cognitive processing.

4. Applying Scaffolding Strategies – Learn how to use supports like sentence starters, visual aids, and templates to help students succeed.

5. Integrating Technology – Discover tools to enhance collaboration, creativity, and language development.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a roadmap to create meaningful and accessible learning experiences, empowering your students to interact with authentic texts and accomplish challenging, real-world tasks with confidence.

Let’s get started!

Link to access guide