The role of cooperative learning in promoting spoken English with ninth grade students at Isaias Hernan Ibarra public school in Cali

Abstract

Cooperative Language Learning (CLL) is an instructional method that has had an impact on research literature about education and teaching practice. Cooperative learning (CL) is defined as “the instructional use of small groups through which students work together to maximize their own and each other’s learning” (Johnson, Johnson & Holubec, 1994, p. 4). CL meth od is more than simply group work, which may not be cooperative in itself. Learning is dependent on the student s ' interaction, their accountability and motivation to increase their mutual learning outcomes (Olsen & Kagan, 1992, in Richards & Rogers, 2001). This research project was focused on the use of CL to promote spoken English production in a group of ninth grade students from the Isaias Hernan Ibarra public school, branch of Gabriela Mistral s chool in Cali, Colombia