From the 1980s, the theory of cooperative learning has been gradually accepted and studied in our country and the education reform advocates the cooperative learning, which makes it be received more expectation and forms a trend of researching and practicing this theory. Researchers in our country have based on the lessons drawn from foreign cooperative learning and relevant theories, keeping continuously exploring the teaching practice, and have formed a lot of theories and teaching experience worthy of learning. The researches on the specific teaching strategies, however, which are still far from sufficient. So how to make cooperative learning play a real role to implement the expectations of people towards cooperative learning, is a problem that appliers are eager to solve when facing the education reality. In addition, faced with new problems in application of cooperative learning, ,educators should also pay attention to thinking how to handle them. This thesis is based on the several problems appearing in the cooperative learning in English teaching in a local junior high school and combined with the education reality, to explore the effective approaches to cultivate the students’ cooperative ability in oral English learning.

This paper is going to study on the following two bases: 1. the current situation of the cooperative learning in junior middle school. 2. the problems in the group cooperative learning. At the same time, it’s going to put forward some teaching suggestions on the following three research questions: 

1. What is the current situation of the cooperative learning in junior middle school? 

2. What are the achievements and problems in teacher’s role and students’ participation?

3. What are the possible proposals for achievements and problems in cooperative learning?     

1.2 Significance

  Many studies have already proved that the theory of cooperative learning is very helpful to English teaching. However, whether the oral ability of students in junior high school is real improved still needs further research and evidence. Thus, applying the theory to the real practice is of great necessity.First of all, the atmosphere of a cooperative learning class is quite relax and easier for students to absorb in. Students are provided more opportunities to practice their oral ability and use the target language in natural and harmonious contexts. Otherwise,students can gain confidence and interest in English while cooperating with others. They are able to express themselves bravely and actively. Even some shy students will get over their weakness and dare to open their mouths in front of the rest of the class, which is a key access to the improvement of English learning, especially to the oral English learning. Secondly, the traditional teacher-centered teaching has not only been against by the students but the teachers themselves. Using the cooperative learning theory, the teacher can design kinds of cooperative activities such as role play, group discussion, etc to enhance students’ oral ability with the most proper way. So the students are able to get rid of the situation of teacher controlling.

In this dissertation, the writer will talk about the definition and characteristics of cooperative learning. Later, some relevant studies about cooperative learning and oral ability are stated both abroad and at home. In chapter 3, the writer will come up with research methodology. There are three instruments: classroom observation, interviews and questionnaires. In the nest chapter, the data analysis will be given to find out the achievements and the problems in the cooperative learning. Lastly, the conclusions and suggestions are put forward accordingly.

 Chapter 2   Literature Review

2.1 Previous researches on cooperative learning

2.1.1 The definition of cooperative learning

Generally speaking, cooperative learning is a way to acquire knowledge and improve the ability in a group. It consists of a variety of classroom activities, in which students need to work out the problems, complete the given tasks and share ideas with their own language to others. Research into cooperative learning dated back to the 1970s.Though it  has a long history, it hasn’t been given a united definition.Different definitions were proposed by different experts from various aspects.