Group work and Language learning

Group work and Language learning

By : Sanieva Karina

Group work

Group work is when the learners work together on a task or activity in groups.

Group work increases the opportunities for all learners to speak the new language, it allows them to learn from each other, and frees the teacher to monitor individuals

and give them feedback. Examples of typical group work activities include ranking discussions, jigsaw activities, project work group and group writing tasks.Most

teachers understand that pair and group work provide excellent opportunities for

ELLs' oral language development because each student has more time to talk than in a large group discussion, and students often feel more comfortable sharing their ideas in a small group environment.

Advantages and Disadvantages

While working collaboratively has the potential to improve student outcomes, it requires the instructor to carefully organize, guide and maintain a positive and productive work environment. Despite the substantial benefits group work offers, there are also disadvantages, especially if not implemented effectively.

What are collaborative activities?

Collaborative activities are any activities where learners are working co-operatively in pairs or groups. For example:

                       Pair or group discussions

   Completing shared tasks in a pair or group, e.g. matching, sorting, ranking

   Activities or games with a competitive element, e.g. bingo      Drama and role play

           Information exchange activities, including barrier games and jigsaw activities