APPLYING COOPERATIVE LEARNING TO COLLEGE STUDENTS TO ENHANCE THEIR COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS

Abstract

Cooperative learning has proved to be an effective method for both teachers and students and it has been found to have many positive benefits to foreign language teaching.  This paper was aimed at applying cooperative learning to college students for English as a foreign language (EFL). The participants of the study were summer three Art students of Mettu College of Teachers Education. Accordingly, all participants were selected through purposive sampling techniques for the questionnaire and Focus group discussion. Qualitative data were obtained and analyzed qualitatively. The major findings of this study suggested that cooperative learning helped significantly to enhance the college learners’ oral communicative skills and their motivation toward learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Furthermore, the findings revealed students’ contradictory views regarding native language use and whether CL could help them improve their language skills. Sometimes, students switched to their native language to clarify points or communicate with group members since, as noted in the observations, a large percentage of language classrooms allowed students to use their native language during group discussion.