Thai EFL Student Teachers’ Challenges of Classroom Implementation Using Cooperative Learning Practices

Abstract

To foster pre-service English language teachers’ positive motivation for their teaching practicum is a must, as English language teachers’ training in Thailand faced various challenges, including training content, knowledge, and experiences, and training activities. Therefore, This study investigated the challenges of using cooperative learning practices to enlarge Thai EFL student teachers’ implementation of the approach in Thai elementary school as it promotes students’ collaboration, academic achievement, positive attitudes toward teaching, and social skills. However, challenges in implementing were found in their classrooms, such as teachers’ lack of confidence, insufficient administrative support, and training in the Cooperative learning approach. Therefore, 19 Thai student teachers of the English language were selected through purposive sampling to get training in CL based on the framework for Language Teacher Education in Thailand and (RE) Making a Modular Model by Kumaravadivelu (2012, p. 12), it divided into three stages of developing cooperative learning practice. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, classroom observation protocols, and reflective journal protocols. The thematic analysis was used to analyze the essential challenges in implementing cooperative learning. The research findings indicated that five important challenges were student teachers’ low confidence and content knowledge, student teachers’ preparation and planning, classroom management, students’ engagement, and individual classroom assessment, respectively. These challenges pointed out the complexity of implementing cooperative learning and highlighted the proper need to support student teachers for effective implementation and facilitate successful implementation.

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Author Information
Tawanshine Penthisarn, Phuket Rajabhat University, Thailand
Khanita Limhan, Phuket Rajabhat University, Thailand

• Category: Professional Training, Development & Concerns in Education

Posted by James Alexander Gordon

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