AKNOWLEDGEMNENTS                                                                                   iv

 

 

 

 

 

DECLARATION                                                                                                    v

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTNETS                                                                                       vi

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF TABLES                                                                                                  vii

 

 

 

 

 

ABSTARCT                                                                                                            xi

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE: Introduction                                                                                 1

 

 

 

 

 

    1.1 Background and purpose                                                                                 1

 

 

 

 

 

    1.2 Statement of the problem                                                                                4

 

 

 

 

 

    1.3 Research questions                                                                                          5

 

 

 

 

 

    1.4 Research hypotheses                                                                                       5

 

 

 

 

 

    1.5 Significance of the study                                                                                6

 

 

 

 

 

    1.6 (De)Limitations of the study                                                                          8

 

 

 

 

 

    1.7 Definition of  Key Terms                                                                               9

 

 

1.7.1 Learner autonomy                                                                            9

 

 

1.7.2 Project works                                                                                  10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWO: Review of Literature                                                                11

 

 

   2.1. Theoretical Background & Concepts                                                           11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    2.1 Overview                                                                                                     32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER THREE: Methodology                                                                       34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    3.1 Overview                                                                                                     34

 

 

 

 

 

    3.2 Participants and setting                                                                                  34

 

 

 

 

 

    3.3 Instrumentation                                                                                              34

 

 

 

 

 

              3.3.1. Power points                                                                                    36

 

 

 3.3.2. Students’ logbooks                                                                                      38

 

3.3.3. Posters and wall newspapers                                                                      40

 

3.3.4. Preparing brochure or pamphlets                                                                41

 

3.3.5. Making authentic material for future use in the classroom                        41

 

3.4 Procedure                                                                                                                   42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    3.5 Study design                                                                                                   51

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER FOUR: Results and Discussions                                                           52

 

 

 

 

 

    4.1 Overview                                                                                                       64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER FIVE: Conclusions                                                                               72

 

 

 

 

 

    5.1 Overview                                                                                                       72

 

 

 

 

 

    5.2 Summary of the findings                                                                               73

 

 

 

 

 

    5.3 Conclusions                                                                                                   74

 

 

 

 

 

    5.4 Pedagogical implications                                                                               76

 

 

 

 

 

    5.5. Suggestions for further research                                                                  77

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES                                                                                                       78

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDICES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Appendix A  Questionnaire to investigate the Learner autonomy                      85

 

 

 

 

Appendix B   Interview questions                                                                       88

 

 

 

Appendix  C   Common reference levels                                                                 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix D  Projects implemented during twelve sessions in brief                   92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   BIO-DATA                                                                                                            113

 

 

Tile page in Farsi

 

 

 

Abstract in Farsi                                                                                                    117

 

Approval page in Farsi                                                                                                   118

 

 

 

Declaration Page in Farsi                                                                                          119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF TABLES

 

Table a- The merits of the PBL procedure in comparison to the traditional classrooms      7

 

Table b – The pre-test scores of both groups                                                                       43

 

Table c – The mean scores of the two groups on the test section                                         44

 

Table 1- Tests of Normality for experimental group                                                            53

 

Table 2- Tests of Normality for control group                                                                      54

 

Table 3- Group Statistics on autonomy                                                                                 54

 

Table 4- Independent Samples Test on autonomy                                                                55

 

Table 5- Group Statistics for reading pre-test                                                                       56

 

Table 6- Independent Samples Test for reading pre-test                                                       57

 

Table 7- Group Statistics for writing pre-test                                                                        57

 

Table 8 -Independent Samples Test for writing pre-test                                                        58

 

Table 9- Group Statistics on speaking pre-test                                                                      59

 

Table 10- Independent Samples Test on speaking pre-test                                                    61

 

Table 11- Group Statistics on listening pre-test                                                                     61

 

Table 12- Independent Samples Test on listening pre-test                                                    62