Collaborative Approach in Teaching and Learning of English as a Second Language

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The teaching and learning of English as a second language and its approaches have been an issueof great concern to both educationists and linguistics alike. Many approaches have been inuse and many others coming up, all in a bid to find effective way of teaching English as a second language, the English language being the pivot on which the success of our educationalsystem revolves. So the effectiveness of its teaching determines the efficacy of our education. In this paper we highlighted the differences between Ll and ~ learning, approaches “method” and “techniques” and some contemporary language teaching approaches. This paper sets out to discuss collaborative approach and L2 teaching and learning and the bases of its effectiveness in active learning. This paper discuss how the interactive nature of collaborative approach engages students in active processing of information resulting in greater retention of subject matter; improved attitudes towards learningand enhancement of interpersonal relations arnong group members. Introduction It is the view of many scholars allover the country that the quality of education is dwindling. Therehave been hues and cries from all quarters that the present state of our education is as a result of falling or fallen standard of the English Language in the country. There has been allegationsand counter allegations. The question is who is to be blarned; the government, the teacher,the parents or the learners? Is it the proverbial fault of the barber or the case of blunt instrumenthe uses? You answer is as good as mine. However, there is no gainsaying the fact that the major facilitator in teaching and learningprocess is the teacher. According to Ozioko (2005) the teacher is the pivot on which teaching and learning process depend for success. For effective teaching and learning a teacherhas the duty of not only to understand the content but also the pedagogical skills neededto impact his knowledge. The job of the language teachers is a complex one. He has the difficult task of translating the content of the curriculum into meaningful learning experience. Different topics need different ways through which the experience can be impacted, hence, the emergence of issue of methods or approaches to language teaching. Over the years teachers and linguists have been in the quest for the best way of communicatingtheir ideas meaningfully for effective learning and functional education. To Howait (1984) the quest for better methods for teaching of language has been of greatconcern to teachers and linguists alike throughout the 20th century. The teachers have beensearching for appropriate methods to use for teaching. According to Momoh P.K (2005) the appropriateness of any method depends on the inherent advantages or disadvantages of themethod. Continuing, he opines that a method is good if a teacher uses it to suit a particular Nnene, Ene & Chime: Collaborative Approach in Teaching and Learning of English as a Second Language teaching situation. In the same vein, LawaI (2004) asserts that a teacher should understand the merit or demerits before selection. By implication therefore, a teacher has to check the advantages and disadvantages of a particular method against the others before selecting the method. It is on this backdrop that there has been changing views on L2 teaching and learning approaches. Language teaching methods have been dynamic over the years and it seems that the search for the most effective ways of impacting knowledge is unending. Before further discussion, it is vital to note that method, approach and techniques are interrelated pedagogical concepts or terminologies. According to Ubahakwe and Obi (1979) the term “approach” refers to the linguistic and/or psychological principle which underlies a particular method of language teaching. To Nwankwo (2013) approach in language teaching has to do with language teaching philosophies that can be interpreted and applied in different ways in the classroom. Ubahakwe and Obi (1979) see language method as a recognized and systematic way of performing a language teaching task, a sequence of techniques or steps used in teaching. In the same Vein Howatt (1984) opines that method in language teaching refers to fixed teaching system with systematically presented techniques and practices based on specific language theories. Techniques pertain to exact activity carried on for effective language teaching and learning. Going by Ubahakwe and Obi (1979) Nwankwo (2013) definitions of approach, it is not a wonder that we have many approaches; the key concepts in those definition psychological and philosophical principles. There is bound to be many approaches as long as there are divergent psychological and philosophical views. According to Anasiudo (2002) the area of emphasis that are chosen in language teaching as a result of one’s view of the natural of language becomes one’s approach to language teaching. Different views result to different methods, in Nigerian classroom for instance. Ubahakwe and Obi (1975) assert that methods/approaches obtainable are traditional method, structure approach, situational approach, oral approach, drill method, direct method, project, play method activity method, project method and electric method. . Some of these methods are still in use today and some contemporary ones have been added. Methods are processes which the teacher transmits worthwhile knowledge to the learner foe effective translation of educational aims into practicality and reality. Language is not static and the methods are not static but dynamic. They change as the aims change. Methods are also influenced by quantity and quality of teachers, availability of materials and resources, nature of external examination, socio economic status of learners and status of the language. Some of the approaches that have been in use in language teaching include: Grammar Translation Approach, Audio lingual approach, Direct approach/Natural method, Lexical approach, Communicative approach, Cognitive code learning approach, Total physical response (TPR), Present practice production (PPP), Suggestpodeia, Collaborative approach, Silent way, Teaching knowledge Test (1KT), Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), Dogme etc. The list seems unending as views or perspectives are changing the methods are also changing. Sometimes it is assumed that the terms “approach” method and techniques are hierarchical concepts. An approach is a set of corrective assumption about the nature of language and language learn, but does not involve procedure or provide any details about how such assumptions should translate into the classroom setting it is related to L2acquisition theory. There are three major perspectives in this level.