Abstract
The current paper investigates the effectiveness of integrating Project-based Learning (PjBL) strategies in the design process of an English for Specific Purposes Course (ESP) to develop dental vocabulary at the Dentistry College, Al-Azhar University- Cairo- Egypt. The study sampled fourteen ESL dental Malaysian students whose native language is English. This process required a needs analysis to assess the students' academic and professional needs, wants, and lacks to create a course that responds and satisfies their requirements. The study adopted a quantitative methodology where participants were exposed to a dental vocabulary pre-test/ post-test to assess their dental vocabulary background. An interview with academic experts in the field of dentistry also helped in the design of the course. In light of the needs analysis, interviews, and the vocabulary test, an ESP project-based learning strategies course was designed. The results of the study revealed the effectiveness of integrating project-based learning strategies in the ESP course to develop dental vocabulary among ESL Malaysians. It proved that employing innovative strategies in the dental vocabulary classroom fostered the learners' self- autonomy, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.