How do Chinese students collaborate in EFL group work?

Abstract

Despite its origins in Western educational settings, communicative methodology, including the use of groups, has been largely accepted in both English-speaking and non-English-speaking English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts across the world. However, students who approach learning from a highly collectivist orientation may experience discomfort in Western-style group work situations that require a combination of both cooperative and individualist behaviour from participants. This study examines the collaborative behaviour of Chinese university students when they work in groups in English language lessons. The study shows that while Chinese students can collaborate successfully in groups, there are aspects of Chinese culture that may limit the effectiveness of group work in the language classroom in China.12 page(s