A Study Of Effectiveness Of Cooperative Learning In Senior English Large Classes

The English teaching model in Senior Middle School is given a new and higher requirement as the new wave of college entrance examination. Teaching of reading is an important part of English teaching. And its effect will influence the English level of students a lot.Shaanxi Province is an important education province in China, while Yan’an is a vital city in Shaanxi. Senior English teaching is often paid great attention. However, the lack of teaching staff and the overnumber of students make most of the senior schools choose large classes in Yan’an. In order to check the efficiency of cooperative learning in senior English large classes, the study chose 2 classes among 36 classes in Yan’an Middle School as the study objects. Class 11 is the experimental class including 60 students, while Class 12 is the controlled class including 60 students. The experiment lasted for 1 semester. The aim of the experiment is to check whether the cooperative learning can improve the teaching of reading in large classes effectively. During the procedure, the model of cooperative learning is used in Class 11. The experiment is to explore the tactics of team divisions by practising cooperative learning in classes. At the end of the term. Questionnaire and Interview are used to find out students’ comments on the use of cooperative learning in the teaching of reading. From the results, it is seen that most students can accept cooperative learning in the learning of reading. Meanwhile, in order to check its efficiency, pre-test and post-test are used to compare the scores of the experimental class and the controlled class. In the pre-test, there is no marked difference in the ability of English reading between the 2 classes. The number of different levels of students is quite close in the 2 classes. In the post-test, the experimental class is better than the controlled class in the 24-30 and 18-22 two levels.The study of the cooperative learning in language teaching and learning enriches the theory of cooperative learning. What’s more, it provides more practice experiences. The study whose purpose is to check the effectiveness of the cooperative learning in large classes, is helpful to find a new model of teaching of reading in senior English teaching at the new atmosphere. It is helpful for students to explore the new method of reading. Meanwhile, it provides a new way for senior large-class teaching. Compared to the traditional teaching, teachers will pay more attention to create better class atmosphere and design better class activities. Teachers are required to have a better knowing of students’ learning levels. In a word, it provides a new language learning model for students and brings a new way for other courses teaching reform.