Co-operative English teaching , as the name suggests, is an English teaching program wherein, as a trainer, you will be required to encourage exchange (conversation) between co-learners in a learning group and further between various groups. Co-operation between the teacher and his/her pupil is also integral to such co-operative teachings.
In fact, these exchanges are the basic principles of these co-operative English teaching programs and all training curriculums and methods are based on these exchanges. And since the co-operative teaching is based on interactions between different members, their mutual respect and mutual co-operation essentially matters.
Co-Operative English Teaching And Student Benefits
Co-operative English teaching promises a whole world of benefits to your ESL or EFL students and is undoubtedly one of the best systems of teaching:
- It helps you nurture feelings of co-operation among your students (guiding them to rise above individualistic tendencies).
- It creates opportunity for you to involve maximum number of learners in a positive pursuit. The exchange of ideas helps them flourish as individuals and hones their communicative skills.
- It is a great way of boosting the morale of your students (not of individual students but of groups); hence, it is a means of individualistic as well as collective development of your students.
What Are The Basic Co-operative Skills?
Being a group activity, co-operative English teaching and learning programs are not only about speaking – one needs to be as attentive as a listener, as an involved orator one happens to be. Again, speaking will not be enough.
Each participant will need to communicate – communicate verbally as well as through body language and eye contact. The listeners too will need to share ideas, working on ideas presented by the speakers. Involvement is important and that it is possible only with each group member taking turns in an activity.
The onus of imparting the basics of co-operative learning lies with the teacher. Hence, as a guide, you will need to inculcate values and skills in the trainees – right from active listening to eye contact, friendly body language, involvement, sharing ideas, appreciation of others' views and works, working on others' ideas and other such elevated feelings and actions.
Effective Co-operative English Teaching Activities
To succeed with your co-operative English teaching program, you can engage your students in some positive activities like group and inter-group discussions, debates, story telling and other pleasant pursuits. Whatever the co-operative English teaching activity you adopt, you will need to have a proper perception of the mindset of your student (with factors such as age and exposure definitely playing a part in it).
There is not much you can do with young children; articles, essays, poems, story telling, etc. followed by rapid-fire question-answer sessions are fit activities for them. You will have better scope with children and youth of advanced years. Engage them in discussions on current issues, on academic matters and so on.
Debating is a really interesting activity, with groups contending, presenting arguments on miscellaneous issues. Being an English language curriculum, you can ask your students to make presentations on renowned English authors and their works. Composing plays and songs make interesting activities for a class of advanced learners.
These are only a few among some effective co-operative English teaching programs. You can invent newer activities, but your ultimate aim should be proper, collective development of your students.
The article English Teacher Philosophy Of Teaching enumerates approaches and strategies English language teachers should adopt to bring about all-round development of ELLs.