METHODOLOGY OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING AND FORMATION OF ADOLESCENTS` INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCE IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of motivation increase of younger and older adolescents in learning foreign languages. Taking into consideration the objective factors which characterize physiological, cognitive, psychological and social peculiarities of adolescent development and which have positive or negative impact on learning processes at schools, we have suggested a hypothesis that the fulfillment of exercises and tasks which provide for the independent learning process in small groups through the exchange of information with their peers when students have a certain freedom of actions and share collective responsibility will respond to the peculiarities of adolescent development and motivate them to achieve their goals and at the same time will contribute to their interpersonal competence. We consider that this approach to learning process could be implemented by applying the methods of “cooperative learning” proposed by Frank T. Lyman and further developed by other foreign methodologists. According to the methodology of “cooperative learning” a sample of tasks and exercises was developed for teaching the German language that could contribute to motivation and at the same time shape adolescent ability to feel each other and develop their skills to communicate and cooperate while solving their learning and life tasks. The exercises and tasks have been approbated in German language classes. The outcomes of the experiment are the following: students increase their motivation, accelerate efforts while performing the tasks in every stage of “cooperative learning”, develop mutual help, self-responsibility and mutual responsibility for the task performance. Based on the experiment the following conclusions have been drawn: the exercises and tasks with “cooperative learning” elements in foreign language classes positively improve student’s motivation and performance, contribute to the achievement of educational goals and help students form their interpersonal competence.