Abstract

Nowadays, cooperative learning has been playing a more and more important role in the English foreign language teaching. Generally speaking, its theory has been regarded as one of the ever-increasing popular areas of theory and practice in English teaching. Therefore, there are more cooperative activities appearing in the class of junior high students.

Cooperative learning can help change the traditional dull teaching atmosphere and stimulate the interest of students. Furthermore, it offers students a precious chance to practice the knowledge they have learned and cultivate their cooperative awareness.

This thesis is based on the several problems appearing in the cooperative learning in English teaching in a local junior high school and combined with the education reality, to explore the effective approaches to cultivate the students’ cooperative ability in oral English learning and to find out the problems existing in the cooperative learning.

To better understand the achievements and problems in cooperative learning, this thesis conducts a survey in a junior high school in Hangzhou. Then by the methods of classroom observation, interviews and questionnaires for both teachers and students in this school, a systematical analysis is given to make out the students’ different attitude towards cooperative learning.

In brief, enough improvements should be carried out to meet students’ real need in English learning, which can surely promote the quality and efficiency of cooperative learning.

Key words: cooperative learning; investigate; attitude; problems; suggestions

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

Chapter 1 Introduction-1

1.1 Background-1

1.2 Significance-2

Chapter 2   Literature Review-2

2.1 Previous researches on cooperative learning-2

2.1.1 The definition of cooperative learning-2

2.1.2  The characteristics of cooperative learning-4

2.1.3 Previous studies on cooperative learning abroad and home-5

2.1.3.1 The Study on Cooperative Learning Abroad-5

2.2 Previous researches on junior oral English teaching-6

2.2.1 Oral English ability-6

2.2.2 The necessity of oral English teaching-6

2.2.3 Previous studies on oral English teaching abroad and home-7

2.2.3.1 Previous studies on oral English teaching abroad-7

2.2.3.2 Previous studies on oral English teaching at home-8

Chapter 3  Research Methodology-8

3.1 Research Questions-8

3.2 Subjects-9

3.3 Materials-9

3.4 Instruments-9

3.4.1 Classroom observation-9

3.4.2 Interviews-9

3.4.3 Questionnaires-10

Chapter 4  Research Procedure and Data Collection-11

4.1 Classroom observation-11

4.2 Interviews-11

4.3 Questionnaire-11

Chapter 5 Data Analysis-12

5.1 Analysis of classroom observation-12

5.2 Analysis of interview-13

Chapter 6 Findings and discussion-15

Chapter7 Problems and suggestions in cooperative learning-17

Chapter 8 Conclusion-18

8.1 The advantages and disadvantages of cooperative learning-18

8.1.1. The advantages of cooperative learning-18

8.1.2. The deficiencies of cooperative learning-20

Chapter 9   References-22

Appendix A    Questionnaires for teachers and students-23

The results of questionnaires.-25