The Impact of Cooperative Learning in Comparison to Traditional Learning (Small Groups) on EFL Learners’ Outcomes When Learning English as a Foreign Language

Abstract

To identify the effect of cooperative learning (CL) on the achievement's of EFL learners, a 12-week study was conducted in four secondary schools in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of cooperative learning (CL) in developing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' grammatical competence in a relatively under-researched context (i.e., Arabia). In particular, this this study aims to investigate the impact of cooperative learning in comparison to traditional instruction in learning English grammar on the achievement of students. This study contributed to the knowledge about how students learn English grammar as a foreign language when they work cooperatively together in cooperative learning groups in comparison to peers who work in traditional classrooms (small groups). The participants in this study were 139 tenth grade male students, aged 14-15 years, in four boys' secondary schools in Al-Baha city.The results showed that there are statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the students who were taught English in the cooperative learning environment (the experimental group), and those who were taught the English by using the traditional small group method (the control group) in the post-test. This difference was in favour of the experimental group. However, the results showed that are not statistically significant differences between the students in the experimental classes and the students in the control groups in their English achievement test score at the pre-test.

New curriculum design and teaching methods to enhance course performance and increase motivation of Saudi Arabian college students

“…In addition, Arab college students recently have been reported to lag behind the majority of the educated world (UNDP/RBAS, 2014). The small amount of literature available indicates that Saudi students lack motivation (Alghamdi & Gillies, 2013;Ezza, 2013;Kahn, 2011). For this reason we intend to investigate methods of instruction to improve Saudi learning and motivation to learn.…”

“…Saudi students in the Ezza (2013) study and others were described as underachievers, full of excuses to avoid classes, procrastinators and not preparing for exams until hours or minutes before the exam (Alghamdi & Gillies, 2013;Kahn, 2011). This may partially be the responsibility of the instructors: instructors that give undeserved grades to students are themselves exhibiting the wrong ethical standards to students therefore not helping the people of the country they were employed to serve.…”

“…Perhaps as a result of such a lack of motivation, unemployment rates are highest among this population age group: Saudi Arabia has the highest youth unemployment rate (43%), of college graduates from Arab nations (UNDP/RBAS, 2014). Saudi Arabia is also one of the countries that highly promotes higher education in English (Alghamdi & Gillies, 2013;Alsamani, 2014;Ezza, 2013;Khan, 2011, Liton, 2012.…”

“…Saudi Arabia is one of the Arab countries that offers a Westernized form of education. There are very few studies on Saudi Arabian students (Alghamdi & Gillies, 2013;Alsamani, 2014;Kahn, 2011;Liton, 2012). Although the Saudi government has invested substantial amounts of resources into education for the country, there is a crisis of academic underachievement in the country (Ezza, 2013;UNDP/RBAS, 2014).…”

“…Examining methods of teaching is one course of action for elevating the quality of educational instruction with a particular demographic of population in mind. Students who learn collaboratively have been shown to reach higher academic standards of achievement, globally and specifically in Saudi Arabia (Alghamdi & Gillies, 2013;Alharbi, 2008;Johnson & Johnson 1999& 2009Liton, 2012;'Ayon, 2013;Slavin, 1995). For this reason we will investigate teaching methodology that may be beneficial to the Arab college student and in particular Saudi college students.…”