Opening minds: collaborative work promoting students’ critical thinking and oral production in english classes

Abstract

This research aimed to integrate collaborative work in English class as an important tool which, could provide students with several opportunities to work together, to get them away from traditional paper-and-pencil tests and through the use of critical thinking based on a variety of topics or issues which, were discussed in groups, in order to express their opinions and, to feel motivated to produce different and authentic speeches in an oral way in each one of the students who were involved in the process. The participants chosen for this study was a course of tenth graders aged between fourteen to sixteen years old. The data was gathered through teacher’s journal, students’ interviews, recordings and a rubric. The results showed that students were engaged and more interested when integrating new dynamics in English class for their learning process. They also became more responsible taking charge of their own work and, they realized of the importance of working together.