The incidence of cooperative learning on the oral communication skill development in students of tenth year of basic education at “Julio Moreno Espinosa” High School, in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, in the first term, 2016-2017 school year

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the incidence of Cooperative Learning on the Oral Communication Skill Development. The study was carried out with a group of 40 students who studied in the tenth year of basic education at “Julio Moreno Espinosa” High School, in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas during the first semester of 2016- 2017 school year. To collect data, two instruments were designed and applied: a pre-test and a post-test; and two groups were formed: control and experimental. The control group received the traditional teaching and the experimental one used some techniques related to Cooperative Learning. The students’Oral Communication or speaking skill performance was compared through the tests. The pre-test determined the level of speaking skill performance at the beginning of the experiment. The post–test was carried out to determine if there were differences between the groups. The findings revealed that students’scores in the post test in both: control and experimental groups increased; however scores of the experimental group increased very significantly. The research results also indicated that the learning activities using some techniques of Cooperative Learning made students more engaged in the learning process and motivated to communicate in English.