THE ROLE OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING IN ENHANCING STUDENTS SPEAKING SKILLS

Abstract

In foreign language context, students are in continuous investigations for better methods that would help them to master language skills especially speaking. The present study aims at discovering how cooperative language learning can be utilized to develop English as a foreign language students' speaking skill in the English branch, at Djilali Bounaama University, Khemis Miliana. The major question of this study is whether the implementation of the cooperative learning would lead to better achievement concerning students’ speaking skill. Based on the research questions, we expected that effective implementation of the cooperative learning would result in making students interact more and show their true oral capacities; students would develop their oral fluency and accuracy and be engaged in meaningful interaction that would sustain their speaking skill. For the verification of our hypotheses, we opted for the descriptive method and used two different data collection tools: students’ questionnaire and classroom observation to gather data from third year students. Through the analysis of the data, we discovered that students in oral tasks showed acceptance concerning the work cooperatively, they discussed topics in groups and in pairs. Students interacted more with each other and attempted to practice aspects of language including grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Students also practiced oral language with less hesitations and with speed. Since students were able to practice their oral accuracy and fluency, one can understand that they were engaged in meaningful interactions that helped them sustaining their speaking skill. Therefore, our hypotheses are confirmed. However, for future research, this study will be more significant and accurate, if it is experimental.