the Effects of Cooperative Learning on English Reading Comprehension Ability and Management Skills

The study investigated the effects of cooperative learning and the use of traditional teaching methods on reading comprehension ability, management skills and improvement of their English language as they worked together in groups of Female Iranian EFL Learners. This study was conducted at secondary stage (۹th grade) in Iran Public Girls’ Schools from early October to the end of November ۲۰۱۰. It employed two groups of subjects: an experimental group and a control group. Each group had ۴۰ participants who met twice a week. The control group was taught using traditional methods, which centered on the teacher and resulted in a lack of participation between the students themselves. The experimental group was taught using the cooperative learning method that depends on small heterogeneous groups of students who worked together to maximize their own and each other’s learning. A pretest and a posttest were given to both groups as well as pre questionnaires and post questionnaires. During the four weeks it was seen that It is not easy to switch between the two methods but using the cooperative learning method is so simple for both the teacher and the student. As you know the traditional way is based on the teacher only, but in CL way both the teacher and the students are working together as a team . Also, It did show that using CL on EFL reading comprehension ability is more effective than comparable regular textbook instruction in improving the EFL reading ability of Iranian school students. Furthermore, the findings of the current study agreed with the findings of previous studies concerning the positive effects of CL in improving reading ability in English as a first language (Stevens, & et al, ۲۰۰۶; Greenwood, Delquadri, & Hall,۲۰۰۰; Johnson & Johnson, ۱۹۹۵). The outcomes of this study support the findings that CL can increase reading ability in L۲ through cooperation between small groups in a supportive and stress-reduced atmosphere.

Keywords:

Cooperative learning , Reading comprehension ability , Management Skills