Editor: Peter Garrett (University of Cardiff)
Review editor: Terry Shortall (University of Birmingham)
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Volume: 13 Number: 3 Page: 163–179
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A Classroom Forum on Small Group Work: L2 Learners See, and Change, Themselves
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Jennifer D. Ewald
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Current research on language learning makes many claims about the potential benefits of small group work in L2 classrooms. With the relatively recent emphasis on students' perspectives, there is now a growing number of investigations that focus on learners' beliefs about the language
classroom. In this study, 21 students and their teachers participated in a collaborative forum in which they explored the use of small group work in their L2 classroom. Through journals, questionnaires, skit presentations, as well as small and whole group discussions, these students expressed
their beliefs, developed an awareness of their own small group interaction, deepened their perspectives, created an improved sense of community and modified their behaviour in a number of ways. This research confirms the importance of involving students in research on pedagogy; moreover, it
highlights the need for teachers to develop methods aimed at enabling their students to explore issues related to their own learning.
Keywords: COLLABORATION, SMALL GROUP WORK, AWARENESS, BEHAVIOUR
© 2004 Multilingual Matters
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