ABSTRACT

Reading comprehension plays a vital role in English learning, especially for the students in senior high schools. However, the traditional English reading class is dominated by the teacher and students are encouraged to follow the teacher’s footsteps , In consequence, most of the students cannot improve their English reading proficiency as required in The English Curriculum. 

Cooperative Learning emphasizes the importance of education as a process for  students to learn cooperatively in a relaxing and harmonious environment. In a cooperative learning class, the teacher is not the only resource of knowledge and the students should communicate and discuss with each other for knowledge acquisition.

In this study, an experiment is made to investigate the effects of cooperative learning on English reading.  The subjects in the experiment are the Grade one students from two classes of Zhenjiang No.1 Middle School. The experimental class is asked to make use of the Cooperative Learning method, while the control class was still be taught by the traditional reading strategies. Analysis of the data from questionnaires and some students interviews shows that Cooperative Learning can promote senior students’ reading ability and it can be applied to English reading teaching in senior high schools. 

Keywords：Cooperative Learning; English reading teaching; senior high schools

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Significance of the Study-1

Chapter Two  LITERATURE REVIEW-3

2.1 Cooperative Learning-3

2.1.1 The Definition of Cooperative Learning-3

2.1.2 Previous Research on Cooperative Learning-3

2.1.3 The Theoretical Basis of Cooperative Learning-4

2.1.4 Benefits of Cooperative Learning-4

2.2 English Reading Teaching in Senior High School-5

2.2.1 Significance of English Reading-5

2.2.2 The Status Quo of English Reading Teaching-5

2.2.3 Application of Cooperative Learning to English Reading Class-5

Chapter Three  METHODOLOGY-7

3.1 Research Questions-7

3.2 Research Design-7

3.2.1 Context-7

3.2.2 Subjects-7

3.2.3 Instruments-8

3.3 Data Collection-9

Chapter Four  RESULTS AND DISCUSSION-1-

4.1 Reading Achievements-1-

4.2 Questionnaires-11

4.3 Analysis of Interviews-13

4.4 Advantages and Problems of Implementing Cooperative Learning-13

4.4.1 Advantages of Cooperative Learning-13

4.4.2Problems in Cooperative Learning-14

Chapter Five  CONCLUSION-15

5.1 Major Results of the Present Study-15

5.2 Implications of the Study-16

5.3 Limitations of the Study-17

5.4 Suggestions for Future Study-17

REFERENCES-19

APPENDIX-2-