Cooperative Learning: An Effective Approach To Motivate English Learners In Large Classes

This thesis concentrates on one burgeoning problem existing in EFL classes: EFL classes are facing great pressure --one teacher has to deal with a larger and larger language class. So when the class size becomes larger and larger, how to find appropriate coping methods accordingly?Based on two questionnaires, the thesis firstly analyzes the current situation of large EFL classes which demands for urgent innovation and improvement. Then this thesis tries to explore the solution to the three categories of large class related problems: the difficulties of methodology, management and affective interaction between teachers and students, which are collected by using an interview with English teachers, Since the role of teachers has greatly changed in the large class situation, the students are central in the classroom instead of the authoritative teachers.So how should EFL education at this level adapt to the large class situation without decreasing its quality? How should teachers prepare to play a different role in the process of managing large classes? How should students be accustomed to large EFL class environment and take good advantage of the facilities available to serve their academic needs? So many questions unsolved are waiting for researching, experimenting, and designing. Luckily, cooperative learning provides the theoretical support to the possibility for the students to effectively construct their knowledge timelessly and spacelessly though they are in large EFL classes. This redirection of focus is, as cooperative learning proposes that a cooperative learning environment should be, posing another challenge for both teachers and students involved in classes. Cooperative learning theory provides an ideal approach and solution to the dilemma of large EFL classes.This thesis then discusses a number of student-centered and learning focused techniques and strategies, which are used successfully in large EFL classes both here and abroad. After that, based on cooperative learning theory, this thesis presents some large EFL class teaching samples with teaching strategies involved to show that large EFL class can be richly presented, more vivid, interesting and effective. From this, the debatable of large EFL class can be enlightened to a great extent by scientific techniques and technology to create a real student-centered cooperative applying learning environment. Finally, an experiment is conducted to show the efficiency of cooperative learning teaching strategies involved teaching method in large EFL classes. In the experiment, the students in the control group are taught in traditional teaching method, while those in the experimental group are taught in cooperative learning and strategies involved teaching method. After a term's experiment,there is obviously difference between the two groups. The students in experimental group do a better job in all the four basic skills of English: listening, speaking, reading, writing. Therefore, multimedia, Internet and strategies involved teaching method can improve the quality of TEFL in middle school large classes.In the end, this thesis indicates that although the real answers to the large EFL class connected questions are of theoretical and practical significance, there is still a long way to go to touch the essence and excellence.