Collaboration-based instruction and second language writing: How teachers impact the quality of student work in collaborative writing classrooms

The problem. The purpose of this study is to explore in depth the teacher's perspective on the application and efficacy of collaborative learning in the ESL writing classroom.; Method. This study utilized qualitative research methods to provide rich and descriptive data about activities in collaborative writing classrooms. Five ESL instructors were asked to participate in semi-structured interviews and be observed within the time frames of their writing classes. Participants were also asked to provide copies of all instructional materials and samples of students' written work.; Results. This research explored the views and classroom implementation methods of ESL teachers engaged in collaborative learning in their writing classes. The results of this study showed that: (1) For these teachers, collaborative instruction is the way for students to share ideas by working in a group on a piece of writing at every stage in its development. (2) These instructors all agreed that teachers should use collaborative learning to create a comfortable classroom atmosphere that will facilitate language learning. (3) ESL teachers should determine the instructional goals and objectives that are to be achieved through the collaborative process. (4) ESL teachers should be mindful of group composition, because it will affect the group's dynamics and the students' interactions. (5) Students should be in close enough proximity to hear one another and communicate without disturbing other groups. (6) Students should be provided with clear instructions for collaborative learning activities. (7) ESL teachers should model and monitor the collaborative learning process. (8) These ESL instructors did not grade collaborative work, but used portfolios and other authentic assessments to evaluate student progress. (9) Collaborative learning is highly compatible with today's educational technology, particularly with networked computers. (10) All of these teachers agreed that the benefits outweigh the potential obstacles in collaborative learning classrooms.