During the past decade, a new approach called “Cooperative Learning”
seemed to attract a lot of attention and became popular. This conceptual approach is
based on a theoretical framework that provides general principles on how to structure
cooperative learning activities in a teacher’s specific subject area, curriculum,
students and setting. Teachers can use this approach to stimulate students to acquire
the knowledge as well as create interpersonal and team skills. Traditionally, classes
always consist of good students and weak students. The weak students sit in isolation
as they lose confidence in their ability to learn English. Therefore, working in groups
is believed to help solve this problem. Shy students who don’t like to speak in a large
class are more comfortable speaking out in smaller groups. Group members can
complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses in English. Each students has
a different background and ability in English, which he or she can bring to the group.
For example, one student might have a strong vocabulary that can supply to students
with a solid background in grammar. Furthermore, poor students will benefit from
interaction with better ones, and good students will feel proud they play an important
role in helping their weaker classmates.