Group Work

Advantages

• Maximizes students' use of the language.
• Reduces stress.
• Requires more students to think/speak at once.
• Provides a pause from tension that may build up in the classroom.

• Give clear instructions.  Have students form their groups either before or after--not WHILE--you give instructions.
• Determine how groups will be formed:  "Turn to the person next to your right."
• Vary groupings so that students do not always work with the same classmates.
• Set a time limit.
• Define the follow-up.
• Circulate while students work in groups.  Answer questions, give guidance as needed.
• Warn students when time is running out.
• Stop the activity even if some groups have not finished.
• Have a few groups report.  A thorough report from every group will become tedious.
• Give the rest of the class a reason to listen to group reports.

Copyright 1998 by Cheryl Krueger
Department of French
University of Virginia