The Impact of Using Cooperative Learning Strategy on EFL Learners’ Performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of cooperative learning on EFL learners’ performance in a secondary school in Saudi Arabia .The sample consisted of 52 students who were selected randomly from two classes of the second year secondary school students in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia .The experimental class was taught through cooperative learning for one semester with the methods of Student Teams-Achievement Divisions (STAD(.The control class was taught in the traditional method of Grammar Translation with some of the Audio-Lingual approach. Data were collected via observation and tests(pre-test and post-test). The researcher found that students taught through cooperative learning achieved better academic performance inside the classroom and in the final year exam .So Cooperative Learning Strategy is more effective than the other non-cooperative learning techniques that been used. Based on the findings of this research Cooperative Learning Strategy is recommendedtobeintegratedintothe educationalsysteminSaudi Arabia.