Cooperative Learning: Increasing Student Engagement in the Foreign Language Classroom
Learning a foreign language can be extremely nerve-wracking for the middle school student. Entering the classroom with extremely limited background knowledge of the subject matter, learners are expected to communicate frequently using words with which they are unfamiliar. Using cooperative learning techniques, 6th, 7th and 8th grade foreign language students learn and exhibit core ethical values of caring, respect for self and others, and responsibility through the use of foreign vocabulary words and cooperative learning activities. From the moment students enter the classroom, they are taught common courtesies and words of praise in the target language. Students complete team building exercises and games during which they practice the newly acquired praises and corrections to foster a friendly environment, teamwork, and collaboration. Once students have established positive relationships with their peers, the praises are transferred for use in academic situations in which students work together to ask and answer questions in the target language. Students motivate each other to push the limits of their knowledge by encouraging progress and praising each other in the target language. After the activities, students use their conversations to write their own responses to the questions used in the activities and expand upon their answers.