Exploring the Implementation of Cooperative Learning for Elevating Students’ Motivation in Learning English

Abstract

English become an advanced elective subject at the secondary school based on the current curriculum: the Emancipated Curriculum. Thus, the role of the teacher in implementing effective language teaching methods is essential. This study aims to look at the phenomenon within one of them namely cooperative learning. Therefore, this study focuses on three points: 1) the implementation of cooperative learning viewed from the five principles of cooperative learning, 2) the challenges faced by English teachers, 3) the impact of cooperative learning on learning motivation from students' perception. This study was conducted in SMA Negeri 1 Gemolong which implemented Emancipated Curriculum with the participant of 30 students from eleventh grade and one English teacher. We used qualitative methods with classroom observations using observation guides, analysis of instructional documents, interview, and students' questionnaires. After collecting and analysing the data, we found that one of principles, namely group processing, was not manifested in the learning process. Additionally, students' lack vocabulary and grammar mastery is the main challenge faced by the English teacher throughout the process of cooperative learning implementation. Nonetheless, cooperative learning is helpful to elevate the motivation of students to learn English. We thus recommend that future studies need to further investigate other principles of cooperative learning.