TATU NUFUS (UIN SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA)
SYAFRYADIN SYAFRYADIN (Universitas Bengkulu)
PAIDI GUSMULIANA (Curup State Islamic Institute)
ADE MAHMUD (Nusantara Islamic University Bandung,)
HILDA RAKERDA (Universitas Bangka Belitung)

UNVEILING STUDENTS' CHALLENGES AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN ENGLISH-SPEAKING TERTIARY CLASSROOM : METHODOLOGIES AND TEACHING APPROACHES

University students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) often struggle with speaking anxiety, limited practice opportunities, and performance pressure. This paper explores the challenges and attitudes of university students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) towards Project-Based Learning (PBL) in speaking classes at the tertiary level. Traditional language teaching methods often fail to provide authentic speaking practice, which is crucial for communicative competence. PBL, known for its dynamic and learner-centric approach, integrates language skills into real-world contexts. The combination of PBL and EFL learning addresses challenges such as anxiety, limited practice, and pressure associated with using a second language. Drawing on the tripartite attitude model (Eagly & Chaiken, 1998), the study investigates students' affective (emotional), cognitive (thought-based), and behavioural responses to PBL in speaking classes. The study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine students' attitudes and challenges in university-level speaking classes. The analysis of questionnaire data shows predominantly positive attitudes towards PBL, with some variations. The interviews reveal challenges like lack of confidence, pronunciation difficulties, time constraints, heavy workload, and performance anxiety. Despite these challenges, students have positive attitudes, emphasising PBL's potential for enhancing language learning, specifically in speaking skills. The paper concludes by recommending targeted interventions to address lingering challenges and refine PBL implementation. By optimising PBL efficacy, this study seeks to provide valuable insights for enhancing speaking instruction in higher education EFL programs.

Tatu Zakiyatun Nufus holds the position of English lecturer within the Psychology Department at State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. Her research interests encompass English Language teaching, the development of English teaching materials, and pedagogical strategies. She has presented numerous papers at both national and international conferences and has contributed to publications in nationally accredited journals as well as reputable international journals.

Syafryadin serves as a lecturer within the English Education Postgraduate Program at Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu. His scholarly pursuits encompass English Language pedagogy, public speaking, and the development of English teaching materials. He has delivered numerous presentations at both national and international conferences, and his contributions extend to publications in nationally accredited journals as well as esteemed international journals.

Paidi Gusmuliana holds the position of lecturer within the English Education Program at Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, State Islamic Institute Curup. His research interests primarily revolve around English Language teaching, with a particular focus on speaking skills. He has delivered numerous presentations at both national and international conferences and has made significant contributions to publications in nationally accredited journals as well as reputable international journals.

Ade Mahmud serves as a lecturer at Nusantara Islamic University Bandung, specializing in educational management. His research interests primarily focus on material development and pedagogical strategies. Ade Mahmud has presented numerous papers at both national and international conferences and has also contributed extensively to publications in nationally accredited journals and reputable international journals.

Hilda Rakerda holds the position of lecturer in English Literature at Universitas Bangka Belitung. Her scholarly pursuits center around multimodal studies, technology-enhanced learning, and linguistics. She has presented numerous papers at both national and international conferences and has also contributed to publications in nationally accredited journals as well as respected international journals.