The effectiveness of cooperative learning in improving reading comprehension among ESL students : a case study

This study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of Cooperative Learning method in  improving reading comprehension. The study intended to find out if the use of Cooperative Learning  method can bring about improvement in the post-test scores after treatment as compared to the  pre-test scores. The one-group pre-test post- test experimental design was adopted in this study in  order to discover the effectiveness of Cooperative Learning method in improving reading  comprehension. Twenty form four students of a National Secondary school served as samples in this  study. At the beginning stage of the experiment, a pre-test was administered to the group of  students. Subsequently the group was exposed to the Cooperative Learning method treatment. At the  final stage of the experiment, a post-test was administered. Data in the form of scores from the  pre-test and post-test were collected to be analyzed. A comparison of mean scores between the  pre-test and post-test showed that the students have improved their test scores after they were  subjected to treatments using cooperative learning method as compared to test scores before  treatment. The test scores were further tested for statistical significance using the T- test  analysis procedure. Results from the T-test indicated that there had been a significant improvement  in reading comprehension. Therefore it was concluded that the Cooperative Learning method was  effective in improving reading comprehension. A questionnaire was also administered to find out the  students perceptions toward Cooperative Learning method. Analysis of the questionnaire responses  showed that students preferred and had positive perception of the Cooperative Learning method. They  also indicated that they were very motivated and had enjoyed English lessons using the Cooperative Learning method.