Exploring Collaborative Learning with a Focus on Group Activities in EFL Classrooms

Year 2018, Volume: 19 Issue: 3, 582 - 597, 30.12.2018

Ebru Koç

https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.385741

Cited By: 3

Abstract

This study aims to
investigate the views of English-language teachers and their students with
respect to collaborative learning (CL) and more specifically, with respect to
group activities. The study included 25 Turkish English-language teachers and
their 486 EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students. The data were collected
from separate questionnaires completed by the students and the teachers.
Additionally, four teachers and 10 students were interviewed. The percentage of
responses for each option of each question was calculated for each item on both
questionnaires.

 The recorded interviews were analysed through
content analysis. The results indicate that most of the students favor group
activities in the classroom, whereas the teachers exhibit far less enthusiasm
for group activities because of difficulties associated with classroom
management and excessive noise levels generated during group activities. It is
suggested that teachers receive training in CL so that they can effectively
implement the technique in the classroom and teach their students how to
effectively use their interactional skills during CL activities.

Keywords

collaborative learning, group work

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