PBL project organized by Ala-Too International University

April 30, 2021

Kyrgyzstan – Poland: An International PBL project organized by Ala-Too International University in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and the Foreign Languages Centre at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland between 5th March 2021 and 23rd April 2021 as part of the English course.

Program managers: Janusz Sroka and Shurubu Karimova.

ELL 19 and ELL 20 students from Philology department have finished their Online PBL project together with the students from Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland. The Joint PBL project lasted 7 weeks. 17 students from AIU and 19 students from SUT worked hard on 6 topics based on Country Studies: National Cuisine, Cultural life of the Kyrgyz and the Poles, National games and sports, Traditional and pop music, Traditional musical instruments/Customs and traditions, Epic “Manas” and The Witcher.

Students studied topics and according to their choices they made up international groups (3x3) and prepared presentations and taught each other during the Zoom meeting every Friday. Mostly, they worked in Breakout rooms learning from each other. Their knowledge was checked using Kahoot, QA surveys. There was a Padlet for the program where participants introduced themselves uploading photos, information about their interests. There were country and university presentation videos on the Padlet. Students have their groups where they could share materials, work together on the project between Friday meetings.

The final meeting was devoted to the outcomes of the Project. Each group prepared presentations where Polish students showed their knowledge about Kyrgyzstan, and Kyrgyz students demonstrated their knowledge about Poland.  The atmosphere was amazing. Polish students danced Kara Jorgo, while Kyrgyz students dance Polish folk dance and sang Polish folk song. 

As we, Janusz Sroka and me, planned the Project outcome we expected it to be mutually beneficial, interesting and meaningful. And our expectations have been realized. First, students practiced and improved their English language skills; second, they developed the 21st century skills- Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Digital literacy. They were able to develop their leadership skills working in groups; they made friends and learnt from each other, understood that they are from different countries, with different cultural and traditional background, but their goals, plans for future are similar.  That is to cooperate with each other to build the better world.

P.S. AIU Rector Erdolatov Sanjarbek and Dean of Social Sciences Faculty Ibrahim Koncak were the honorable guests of the Final Activity.