Developing Emotional Intelligence by Means of Project-Based Activities (English Language, Specialisied School)

This research paper is centered on Project-based learning (PBL), which can be viewed by the author as an effective approach to the development of such an important 21st century skill as Emotional Intelligence (EI) among high school students. Being a complex phenomenon, comprised of several structural components (Self-awareness, Self-regulation, Social Skills, Empathy, and Motivation), it is claimed to be developed by means of Project-based activities. In this research, qualitative content of the English learning and teaching set (Starlight 10) was analyzed with the goal of identifying tasks aimed at the development of EI in the context of Project-based activities. To develop students’ Emotional Intelligence, a special procedure was designed. The procedure is divided into five stages and is based on the conventions of boosting students’ EI. It relies on traditional activities as well as activities and materials specifically designed to activate the emotional sphere of students. Students are put into a situation which is a bit dramatized but makes it possible to get emotionally involved in every activity. It is necessary because students are exposed to the emotional environment but at the same time have the opportunity to learn to regulate emotions. The procedure is anticipated to prove its effectiveness in the aspect of EI development on the basis of Project-based learning.