Section Two: The Use of Group Work
2.1 Goals of Using Group Work
The following description of the goals of group work
focuses on the spoken use of the language. There are several reasons for this
focus. First, group work is commonly used to get learners to talk to each
other. Secondly, much research on group in language learning has focused on
spoken activity, partly because this is the most easily observed and recorded.
Thirdly, mostteachers use speakingactivities in unprincipledways.
2.2 Benefits of Using Group Work on EFL
Classes
Judith A. Rance Roney (2010, page 21), says that language
acquitision research has long supported the benefits of students' interaction,
which include useful language practice (Doughty and Pica 1986, among others),
student to student scaffolding during challenging tasks (Storch 2001, among
others), and the formation of personal agency in academic settings (Morita
2004). Small group collaboration allows learners to follow, to practice
pronunciation of words , to structure conversational efficacy in a less formal
and less anxiety ridden context. It increases language practice, the ability to
appropriately interact in groups.
They are many advantages attached to the use of the group work
strategy in EFL classes. First of all, students' responsibility and autonomy
are promoted through group work activities. All students work together ,
share their thoughts, and always want to reach the goal in group activities. In
addition, one of their main tasks is being in charge of their group activities
each learner is in charge of his own speaking performance, so there is a
friendly help and high level of interdependence among them. For Doff (1998),
`'Group work and pair work encourage students to share knowledge. In a
reading activity, students can help each other to explore the meaning of a
text, in a discussion activity ; students can give each other new ideas''.
Secondly, learners' participation, talking time and oral fluency are
improved through group.
Finally, students' motivation is improved through group
work activities. Group work activity can allow participants to use the
language. Moreover, it is one of the most effective way to motivate
participants to become more involved. Richards and Lockhart (1994) point out
that, students not only play more active roles in the learning process but also
get the benefits of sharing ideas with their team members through taking part
in groups. Doff (1988, p.141) states that `'students feel less anxiety when
they are ....privately than when they are on ...shown in front of the whole
class. Pair work and group work can help shy students, who would never say
anything in a whole class activity.'' By dividing the class into groups, a
new social context is created whereby learners get the opportunity to share
individual cognitions with their group mates and decide on a conclusion based
on the sum of these cognitions.
Group work have benefits not only for the learner but also for
teachers. First of all, they save time. Group work is a way for a teacher to
check students' progress in learning.
Dr. Spencer Kagan (1985) asserts that group work builds
an ethnic relation among students, creates mutual understanding between them,
and increases one's self-esteem, social skills, and study skills. It teaches
students empathy and builds social relationship. It teaches students to be more
responsible, creating a sense in them that they make a difference.
In my opinion, we all know that the authors have spoken about
the advantages both students and teachers gained through group work. Students
practice more the language and are responsible for their learning. They learn
through this strategy of learning how to live and behave in a society. Through
this they become courageous to speak in front of a public.
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