The Implementation Of Cooperative Learning In Senior High English Optional Courses

Cooperative learning developed in America in the 1970s. It is a teaching methodology which requires students to work in small groups to achieve the learning goals and objectives. It has extensive theoretical bases like Social Interdependence Theory, Constructivist Learning Theory, Language Acquisition Theory, Input and Affective Filter Hypotheses and so on. Lots of researches on cooperative learning have been conducted in recent decades. Nowadays, it has become one of the most significant teaching approaches in the teaching field. The implementation of cooperative learning has spread to a variety of subjects like science, math, history and so on, especially English.In China, with the implementation of the New English Curriculum Standards and impacts of educational reform, plenty of senior high schools have optional courses. Optional courses are the courses which are free for students to choose. They aim at motivating students to learn, enriching their knowledge and helping their future development. Optional courses are mainly based on Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. They can foster the growth of students, teachers’ teaching competence and the development of schools. Hefei No.8 Senior High School is one of leading high schools in Anhui Province, which has successful implementation of optional courses.As a high school teacher, the present writer studies available literature, analyzes teaching cases and then employs practical teaching plans to illustrate the implementation of cooperative learning in the course "The Story of the Bible" to show how cooperative learning can be applied to high school optional courses. Cooperative learning is indeed an effective teaching approach in optional courses. The implementation of cooperative learning in senior high English optional courses contributes greatly to motivating high school English learners, enhancing their language and social competences and developing students’ all-round abilities.