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The Effect of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Efl Reading Comprehension: Meshentie Grade Nine High School Students in Focus

Received: 25 July 2015     Accepted: 6 August 2015     Published: 19 August 2015
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Abstract

Education is a teaching learning process. Learning depends upon teaching instruction. During instruction, Students cannot be treated like an empty vessel into which any type of information can be passed down. A teacher must think of ways and means of stimulating and encouraging learning in the students. Hence, Cooperative Learning is as instructional methods in which students of all levels of performance work together in small groups toward a common goal.Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the effect of cooperative learning on learners English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading comprehension in Government Comprehensive Meshentie High School of grade nine students. The total population of the study was 320 students. Hence, two sections (80 students) were selected using random selection and assigned one experimental and the other section was control group by random assignment technique. To get data from the sample group, pre- and post-tests ofreading comprehension,and two set of questionnaire probing students’ and the teacher reflection towards cooperative learning were used. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the reliability of pre-test scores gained from 10 non- participant students and the validity of the pre-test was evaluated by three well experienced EFL teachers. The design of the research was nonequivalent pre-test-post-test control group quasi experimental design. One way ANOVA, Independent sample t- test and paired sample t-test were conducted to examine whether there were significant inter- and intra-group differences of reading comprehension achievements. Content analysis was utilized to analyze the experimental groups and the teacher reflective reports toward CL. Results of this study showed that cooperative learning group gained significant progress between pre-and post-tests and outperformed conventional learning group in the English reading performance. In addition, the experimental group’s three-leveled achievers made striking improvement simultaneously. The experimental group and the teacher perceived CL as the method of interacting with group members to generate mutual advantages

Published in Education Journal (Volume 4, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.edu.20150405.16
Page(s) 222-231
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

English as a Foreign Language Learning, Cooperative Learning, Student Teams’ Achievement Division

References
[1] AliKhan,S.(2008). To Evaluate theEffectiveness of Cooperative Learning vs.Traditional Learning Method Unpublisheddoctoral dissertation). Islamabad, Pakistan
[2] Chen, K. P. (2005). The Effects of CooperativeLearning on Vocational High SchoolStudents’ English Reading.(Unpublishedmaster’s thesis). National PingtungInstitute of Commerce, Taiwan.
[3] Chen, L. S. (2002). The Effectiveness ofCooperative Learning in an EFL VocationalSenior High Classroom.(Unpublished master’sthesis). National Chung ChengUniversity, Chiayi, ROC.
[4] Dick, K.A.(1991).Issues in Education:Cooperative Learning-Mastering the BundleOfSticks. Childhood Education, 67(3), page179-180.
[5] Ghaith, G. M., and Yaghi, H.M. ((1998).Effectsof Cooperative Learning on theAcquisition of Second Language Rules andMechanics. System 26(2),223-234.
[6] Jalilifar, A. (2009). The Effect of CooperativeLearning Techniques on College Students’Reading Comprehension. Elsevier, System 38(2010) 96-108.
[7] Jalilifar, A. (1990). Cooperative Learning andAchievement. In S. Sharan (ed),CooperativeLearning: Theory and Research (pp.23-37).NY:Praeger Publishers.
[8] D. W., Johnson, R. T.,Smith, K. A. (1998).Cooperative Learning Returns toCollege. Change 30 (4), 26-35.
[9] Kagan,S. (1995). CooperativeLearning. SanJuan Capistrano, Calif: Resources forTeachers.
[10] Kessler, C. (1992). (Ed.), CooperativeLanguage Learning: A teacher’s ResourcebookEnglewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall
[11] Liang, T. L. (2002). Implementing CooperativeLearning in EFL Teaching Process andEffects. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation).).National Taiwan Normal University,Taipei,ROC.
[12] Long, Michael H., & Porter, P. A (1985).Group work, Inter Language talks, and SecondLanguage Acquisition. TESOL, 19/2,207-228.
[13] Mesfin Derash. (2008). The Practice ofTeaching Reading in English at First cyclePrimary Schools: Grade Four inFocus(Unpublished master’s thesis). AddisAbabaUniversity, Addis Ababa.
[14] Slavin, R. E. (1995). Cooperative Learning:Theory, Research, and Practice. (2nd ed.).Bostonn, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
[15] Slavin, R. E. (1997). Cooperative Learning:Theory, Research, and Practice:Massachusetts:Allyn and Bacon.
[16] Slavin, R. E. (2006). Educational PsychologyTheory and Practice (8th ed.).Boston: PearsonEducation, Inc.
[17] Slavin, R.E., Hurley, E. A., & Chamblerlain,A.M. (2003). Cooperative Learning andAchievement: Theory and Research. HandbookOf Psychology: EducationalPsychology,Volume 7 (pp.177-198). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
[18] Swain, M. (1985). CommunicativeCompetence: Some Roles of ComprehensibleInput inits Development. In S.M. Gass, &C.G. Madden, (Eds.), Input in Second LanguagAcquisition, (pp.235-253). MA: NewburyHouse.
[19] Tesfamichael Getu. (2011). A Survey of WoldyaHigher Education PreparatorySecondary School Eleventh grade Students Reading Comprehension Performance(un published Masters thesis).
[20] Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: TheDevelopment of Higher PsychologicalProcesses: Cambridge, MA: Harvard university
[21] Amin Shahini &Majid Nemati .(2015). Internet Self-Efficacy in Writing Processes Task Performance : Education Journal, Published online June 4, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/edu)doi:10.11648/j.edu.20150403.16
[22] Ahmad L. El Zein & Lobna Bou Diab.( 2015). The Impact of Game Assessment on Enhancing Student’s Performance : Education Journal, 2015; 4(3): 106-110 Published online May 12, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/edu) doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20150403.13
[23] Webb, N.M. (1992). Testing a TheoreticalModel of Student Interaction and Learning inSmall Groups. Interaction in CooperativeGroups: The Theoretical Anatomy ofGroupLearning (pp.102-119). New York:Cambridge University Press.
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  • APA Style

    Aragaw Delele Endeshaw. (2015). The Effect of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Efl Reading Comprehension: Meshentie Grade Nine High School Students in Focus. Education Journal, 4(5), 222-231. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20150405.16

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    Aragaw Delele Endeshaw. The Effect of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Efl Reading Comprehension: Meshentie Grade Nine High School Students in Focus. Educ. J. 2015, 4(5), 222-231. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20150405.16

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    AMA Style

    Aragaw Delele Endeshaw. The Effect of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Efl Reading Comprehension: Meshentie Grade Nine High School Students in Focus. Educ J. 2015;4(5):222-231. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20150405.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.edu.20150405.16,
      author = {Aragaw Delele Endeshaw},
      title = {The Effect of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Efl Reading Comprehension: Meshentie Grade Nine High School Students in Focus},
      journal = {Education Journal},
      volume = {4},
      number = {5},
      pages = {222-231},
      doi = {10.11648/j.edu.20150405.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20150405.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.edu.20150405.16},
      abstract = {Education is a teaching learning process. Learning depends upon teaching instruction. During instruction, Students cannot be treated like an empty vessel into which any type of information can be passed down. A teacher must think of ways and means of stimulating and encouraging learning in the students. Hence, Cooperative Learning is as instructional methods in which students of all levels of performance work together in small groups toward a common goal.Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the effect of cooperative learning on learners English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading comprehension in Government Comprehensive Meshentie High School of grade nine students. The total population of the study was 320 students. Hence, two sections (80 students) were selected using random selection and assigned one experimental and the other section was control group by random assignment technique. To get data from the sample group, pre- and post-tests ofreading comprehension,and two set of questionnaire probing students’ and the teacher reflection towards cooperative learning were used. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the reliability of pre-test scores gained from 10 non- participant students and the validity of the pre-test was evaluated by three well experienced EFL teachers. The design of the research was nonequivalent pre-test-post-test control group quasi experimental design. One way ANOVA, Independent sample t- test and paired sample t-test were conducted to examine whether there were significant inter- and intra-group differences of reading comprehension achievements. Content analysis was utilized to analyze the experimental groups and the teacher reflective reports toward CL. Results of this study showed that cooperative learning group gained significant progress between pre-and post-tests and outperformed conventional learning group in the English reading performance. In addition, the experimental group’s three-leveled achievers made striking improvement simultaneously. The experimental group and the teacher perceived CL as the method of interacting with group members to generate mutual advantages},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AU  - Aragaw Delele Endeshaw
    Y1  - 2015/08/19
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Author Information
  • Department of English Language and Literature, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch,Ethiopia

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