Promothing Cooperation Wia Online Learning

Many researches have proved that CL promotes language learning by enriching the interaction among the learners. Thus, how to make more effective use of this approach in language learning becomes one of the major concerns of the L2 teachers. Moreover, with the rapid growth of the Internet, language teachers in China have recently come to see the great power of information technology and have begun to consider using it for improving English learning environment The up-to-date studies on the characteristics of online communication have indicated a great potential for promoting collaborative language learning (Bush, 1996; Sotillo, 1997; Warschauer, 1997; Zhang, 1998). Therefore, it is suggested that online learning provide a favorable environment for effective cooperation and that a novel approach, online cooperative learning have a great effect on students' language developmentThe thesis begins with an overview of the theoretical background of CL, followed by a review of online language learning researches. In the light of this literature review, particularly Johnson et al's framework of five basic elements mat make cooperation work (1994b), the writer reports a small-scale study conducted at the School of Foreign Languages of Suzhou University in the spring of 2000 which involved 14 senior students majoring in English Education. Both quantitative and qualitative data analyses are employed to exam the factors that promote effective cooperation and the outcomes of students' online cooperative language learning experience. The five elements under discussion are positive interdependence, promotive interaction, individual and group accountability, interpersonal and group skills and regular group processing.The research results show that the mode of online learning does promote cooperation and the online cooperative language learning is effective in improving the new language proficiency, critical thinking skills as well as social competence. Finally, the thesis presents some implications for better application of this new approach and questions for further research.