5. Discussion
According to the research, we find:
First, in order to approach the challenges, the teacher has to prepare as much as possible. Before the implementation
of cooperative learning, the teacher has to study the theory and practice of cooperative learning inclass from home and abroad consciously, strictly organize classroom teaching according to the characteristics
and nature of the theory of cooperative learning to make the experiment have a high theoretical starting point
which can help to avoid it being just an experience and a form which definitely helps to achieve the final success.
And also the special factors of Chinese students learning English have to be taken into account. However, no
matter how hard the teacher has tried, he cannot be an expert of it. So there is still a lot needed to be improved
constantly.
Second, it is a very important part of the experiment in cooperative learning to persuade them to accept this
teaching mode and coordinate carefully in heart. It is of the same importance to train the students how to carry
out cooperative learning method and define clearly the responsibilities of each member. Only if the teacher let
the students understand the importance of implementing cooperative learning and stimulate the students’ strong
sense of participation can he ensure the smooth implementation of the experiment. And the teacher can also ask
the group leader or the inspector to do a lot about this before and during the implementation of cooperative
learning.
Third, it is necessary to create a favorable environment. If cooperative learning is used in class, the students
will have more chances to talk with others and to share their ideas with others which will create the atmosphere
of learning from the group members. Only in a favorable and safe atmosphere the teacher creates for the students
can the students keep interest in learning. And when practicing using language, they will have no fear of or
worry about the results, contribute themselves to cooperative learning activities actively, and finally benefit
from the process. However, this kind of atmosphere will mostly be created by teacher’s organization in class,
that is, teacher is the “guide” and students are “tourists”, but the focus of guidance is to arouse students’ active
and creative consciousness in learning.
Fourth, Sheng Qunli (1992) emphasized that when designing an activity, teacher should pay attention to that
different parts of the text need different ways to deal with, even in the same passage. Apart from that, teacher
also should take notice: the activity really happens in daily life and is operational; it should base on students’
experiences and interest, contribute to students’ improvement in abilities, skills and knowledge; the activity
should accelerate the connection among subjects and then develop students roundly.
Fifth, it is important to build a suitable way of assessment for cooperative learning. During the whole evaluation,
students’ self-evaluation, the comments from other group members and the teacher’s marks should be
combined perfectly so that the students can take part in the entire course, which promotes the students to help
each other and contributes to the cooperation. Evaluation aims at the cooperation in each group and competitions
among groups. Therefore, any progress each student makes in cooperative learning belongs to the whole group.
What’s more, students should be evaluated in many aspects during the implementation of cooperative learning.
The way of self-evaluation and mutual evaluation creates a much fair and more scientific atmosphere. Apart
from that, the teacher needs to evaluate every student, too.