A Study On The Role Of Extracurricular Cooperative Learning In Junior Middle School English Teaching

Cooperative learning is a kind of creative and effective teaching strategic system. It can not only make class environment lively and improve students’ academic achievements, but also cultivate students’ non-intelligence quality. It is widely used in teaching all over the world. Danyang Lingkou Middle School is a rural school. Students here lack cooperation consciousness and are not good at communication. Their learning interest and motivation are not strong, either. So the learning tasks assigned by the teacher can’t be finished on time, especially at the weekends. Without the teachers’ supervision, students are more attracted by the various entertainments than learning tasks. These years, in order to solve this problem, the author carries out cooperative learning in class and practises it after class, which is called extracurricular cooperative learning which is used for students to complete unfinished class tasks or new tasks after class. The extracurricular cooperative learning provides students with a more open, free and suitable English learning platform.The author of this paper carried out a research on the role of extracurricular cooperative learning in junior school English teaching through controlled trail in two classes of Grade Nine. The instrument involved pretest and post-test achievements, as well as questionnaire surveys and interviews. The data were analyzed with Excel. The following findings were obtained from the study:1. Extracurricular cooperative learning can arouse junior middle school students’ interest in learning English, because it creates a friendly, cooperative and pleasant learning atmosphere. With a common task, all students work together and help each other. They can complete the task more quickly and easily. They are more likely to enjoy the joy of success. Extracurricular cooperative learning develops students’ self-confidence and self-esteem.2. Extracurricular cooperative learning can stimulate junior middle school students’ English learning motivation. After a semester of extracurricular cooperative learning, students’ learning motivation changed a lot. More students fell in love with English learning rather than regarded it as a burden. "Want me to learn" slowly turns into "I want to learn".3. Extracurricular cooperative learning can improve junior middle school students’ academic achievements. It is an effective supplement and extension of in-class teaching. Through cooperation and communication, students can not only review what they’ve learned but also gain new knowledge from their partners to advance together.Besides, in the process of group work, students learn to express, listen, understand and support. They also learn to get along well with other people, which is helpful for their lifelong development. In addition, it can cultivate students’ sense of responsibility and team spirit. The students’ comprehensive qualities are greatly enhanced.