Effects of an Optimization Method to Determine Optimal Complementary Learning Clusters on Iranian EFL Learners' Language Proficiency

Journal of Teaching English Lnaguage Studies

مقاله 3، دوره 5، شماره 3، خرداد 2017، صفحه 34-51   

نویسنده

Zahra khashei

چکیده

Cooperative learning has widely been used as a teaching method in English class around the world,
and has attracted worldwide attention for its remarkable achievement. This study was an attempt
to investigate the effects of an optimization method named genetic algorithm to determine optimal
complementary learning clusters on Iranian EFL learners' English proficiency. The subjects of this
mixed method study were 40 male students at intermediate level with the age of 12-17, and the
study was done in winter, 2016, in a private language institute in Isfahan, Iran. They were divided
in two groups, the experimental group (EG) who were taught cooperative learning with optimal
clustering, and the control group (CG) who were thought traditional cooperative learning. At the
quantitative phase, an Independent Samples T-test was used to compare the means of pre and
posttests. The results indicated that, in listening, speaking, and vocabulary, the subjects'
performances in EG were significantly better than CG. At the qualitative phase, the findings of the
interviews revealed that Iranian EFL learners had positive attitudes towards using cooperative
learning in improving their English knowledge. This study could benefit teachers, students, and
English private institutes in teaching and learning process. It could also help language designers,
policy makers, and administrators employing optimization methods to facilitate teaching English
skills, and components.

کلیدواژه‌ها

Complementary Learning Clusters؛ Cooperative learning؛ Genetic Algorithm؛ language proficiency؛ Optimization

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