A Study of Spanish II High School Students’ Discourse During Group Work David C. Alley Foreign Language Annals

Group work Group work is defined as any activity involving two or more students in which, for a time, the teacher does not have to directly intervene Group work is defined as any activity involving two or more students in which, for a time, the teacher does not have to directly intervene

Teachers are reluctant to use group work because they feel… students are learning from one another’s mistakes students are learning from one another’s mistakes it is wasting time on off-task behavior it is wasting time on off-task behavior students use English excessively students use English excessively

Advantages to Group Work Shifts the responsibility for learning from teacher to student Shifts the responsibility for learning from teacher to student Increases achievement and improves students’ attitudes Increases achievement and improves students’ attitudes Has been shown to be superior to other forms of individual and competitive instruction in terms of cognitive and social outcomes Has been shown to be superior to other forms of individual and competitive instruction in terms of cognitive and social outcomes Reduces the perceptions of differences in individuals Reduces the perceptions of differences in individuals Helps students develop critical thinking skills Helps students develop critical thinking skills

Disadvantages to Group Work Teachers may feel threatened with their authority Teachers may feel threatened with their authority Teachers feel it is damaging to grammar learning (although research shows this is untrue) Teachers feel it is damaging to grammar learning (although research shows this is untrue) Is time consuming Is time consuming Allows for too much off-task talking Allows for too much off-task talking

Although speaking in their L1 is often considered inappropriate and off task it can have a functional purpose that is critical to the successful completion of the assignment Although speaking in their L1 is often considered inappropriate and off task it can have a functional purpose that is critical to the successful completion of the assignment Allowing English will later frustrate them when speaking to a native foreign language speaker Allowing English will later frustrate them when speaking to a native foreign language speaker Two Sides

Two categories that are typically discouraged in L2 classrooms Metacognitive talk- learners talking about how to do a particular task Metacognitive talk- learners talking about how to do a particular task Metatalk- learners talking about their own talk Metatalk- learners talking about their own talk Rather than being considered off-task behavior both metacognitive talk and metatalk are critical to helping group members find what they do and do not know Rather than being considered off-task behavior both metacognitive talk and metatalk are critical to helping group members find what they do and do not know Students can explain the task to each other, negotiate roles, and check their understanding or production of the language against their peers Students can explain the task to each other, negotiate roles, and check their understanding or production of the language against their peers

Research from Project TALK Majority of on-task talk was metatalk Majority of on-task talk was metatalk Ex. Student: “I think it’s the ser form of yo soy. Yo soy muy enfermo or something like that.” Ex. Student: “I think it’s the ser form of yo soy. Yo soy muy enfermo or something like that.” Partly due to topics didn’t always deal with vocabulary and grammar being studied Partly due to topics didn’t always deal with vocabulary and grammar being studied

Research from Project TALK Second was metacognitive talk Second was metacognitive talk Ex. Student: “How many remarks do we have to have for each one?” Ex. Student: “How many remarks do we have to have for each one?” Is consistent with Brooks (1997) findings that group participants must reformulate the task in order to establish priorities and procedures Is consistent with Brooks (1997) findings that group participants must reformulate the task in order to establish priorities and procedures Off-task talk was the lowest in frequency Off-task talk was the lowest in frequency

Student’s evaluations Over 65% agreed or strongly agreed with “I think I learn a lot in the speaking situation” Over 65% agreed or strongly agreed with “I think I learn a lot in the speaking situation” 55% agreed or strongly agreed with “I want more time for group activities” 55% agreed or strongly agreed with “I want more time for group activities”

My Opinion Most students like it Most students like it More students will involve themselves in it More students will involve themselves in it There are more pros than cons There are more pros than cons In the end students will get something out of it In the end students will get something out of it