English Language Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Cooperative Learning

The main purpose of this study was to investigate EFL teachers ’attitude towards cooperative learning in North Shoa Zone Preparatory Schools. The study was designed to explore how teachers perceive cooperative learning in English classrooms. For this purpose, 40 English language teachers of eight preparatory schools were participated in the study. In order to collect the necessary data, questionnaire, Interview and focus group discussion were successively used. Teachers filled in questionnaires, responded to interviews and discussed on focus group discussion points. The data collected through questionnaire were tabulated and analyzed in terms of frequency and percentage quantitatively. Likewise, data obtained from interview and focus group discussion were organized and described qualitatively. On the basis of the analysis made, it was concluded that most teachers were found to have positive attitude towards cooperative learning as it enhances their students’ interdependence, and accountability. However, perceiving CL as if it had another issue, were time consuming, created idleness of some students, demanding of high control, etc are the major factors which were found to affect their positive feelings. Based on the findings of the study, some recommendations are forwarded to address certain issues that could affect teachers’ positive feelings. Ttraining on cooperative learning should be given to teachers.