A Study into the Effects of Competitive Team-Based Learning and 'Learning Together' on the Oral Performance of Intermediate EFL Learners

The present study intended to look into and compare the possible effects of CompetitiveTeam-Based Learning (CTBL) with Learning Together (LT) or Cooperative Group-Based Learning (CGBL)– the most popular method of Cooperative Learning (CL)-onoral performance of Iranian EFL intermediate students. After administering the oralinterview, the researcher selected a group of 40 almost homogeneous Iranianintermediate students and randomly assigned them to control and experimental groups –20 per group. Based on their scores, the experimental class was divided into 5 almostheterogeneous teams - four members each. But in the control group, the participantswere allowed to shape their own favourable groups. For six weeks (18 sessions of 90minutes each), both the groups received the same course materials, instructor,curriculum, out of-class and in-class assignments, schedule of instruction and equivalentmethods of evaluation, but the experimental group experienced language learning viaCTBL rather than via the CGBL as their counterparts in the control group. At the endof the course again the oral interview was administered to both the groups. Then theobtained scores on pre-test and post-test were analyzed through different statisticalprocedures. The results of the study rejected the null hypothesis and provided evidencesupporting the hypothesis that CTBL can have a more significant effect on improvingthe oral performance of Iranian intermediate students. This researcher will discuss theprobable causes for the results of the study, and will shed light on the pedagogicalimplications. She will also suggest recommendations for further research.

Keywords:

Competitive Team-Based Learning , Learning Together or Cooperative Group-Based Learning , Intermediate Students , Oral Performance