Examination of English teachers' opinions about use of cooperative learning approaches in high school English classes

The purpose of this research is to examine English teachers' opinions about on the use of cooperative learning approach in English lessons at high schools. The research was conducted according to the descriptive survey model. The research was conducted as a quantitative research model. It was carried out with 153 teachers working in high school English classes in the central districts of Diyarbakır (Sur, Bağlar, Kayapınar and Yenişehir) in the 2021-2022 academic years. The data were prepared in accordance with the opinions of 7 academicians and 9 teachers who are experts in their fields. The data were collected through a survey of teachers' opinions on the use of cooperative learning approaches in high school English lessons. The open-ended questions of the research were analyzed by content analysis method. The analyzes were performed using the independent chi-square test. We can say that the teachers participating in the research agreed with the items on the use of cooperative learning approach in high school English lessons. There was no significant difference according to the teachers' views on the use of cooperative learning approach according to gender, the program they graduated from and professional seniority. However, it was found that there was a significant difference between the type of school, program type, participation in the activity, the use of the approach and its frequency. Teachers consider the advantages of cooperative learning; practice, collaboration and peer learning, empathy, motivation, self-confidence and active learning; disadvantages are insufficient class hours, dominant students, and difficulties of classroom management. Teachers offered some suggestions like class sizes should be suitable, appropriate materials should be available, students should know the cooperative learning approach, course hours should be increased, teachers should be trained, curriculum should be appropriate, classrooms should be suitable and student situations in groups should be appropriate for more effective use of cooperative learning approach. Keywords: Cooperative learning, English Lessons, High Schools