Language acquisition is determined by a complex interaction of a number of critical input, output, and context variables. An examination of these critical variables reveals cooperative learning has a dramatic positive impact on almost all of the variables critical to language acquisition.
Research shows that three effective teaching strategies accommodate the needs of diverse learners, including ESL students in the mainstream classroom. The three strategies, which can be integrated simultaneously, are visual aids, hands-on activities, and cooperative learning. For ESL students, a vigorous, inquiry-based learning style is recommended as an effective method for students to become “actively engaged in solving a problem, discovering new ways of perceiving their world, intensely applying learning strategies to the next task, developing family-like community among classmates, sharing the excitement of a special discovery”. When a student is developing English language skills, however, this type of learning is particularly useful. For teachers who are looking for a way to more actively integrate their ESOL students into their mainstream classroom, cooperative learning is clearly a top choice. As we examine how cooperative learning transforms input, output, and context variables in the direction of facilitating language acquisition, we conclude: Cooperative learning and the ESL classroom--a natural marriage.