Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to identify the practices and challenges of Cooperative Language
Learning (CLL). The study was conducted in Arbaminch Limat Meles Zenawi Memorial, Abaya
and Chano Dorga secondary schools. These schools were selected by purposive sampling
technique with special emphasis given to the practices of CLL in the classroom, the challenges
that face on the practice of CLL in English classroom and strategies used to manage those
challenges. To achieve the objective of the study, a sample of 98 students from Arbaminch Limat
Meles Zenawi Memorial, 168 students from Abaya and 97 students from Chano Dorga secondary
school were selected by simple random sampling techniques. Accordingly, 6 teachers who teach
English in those grades were selected by purposive sampling technique. Regarding to the design
of research employed the research used descriptive survey method. The instruments used in this
study were questionnaire, interview and observation. Both quantitative and qualitative data
analysis were employed in this study. Then, the quantitative data was analyzed using frequency,
percentage, and mean value whereas the qualitative data was interpreted with narrations. The
finding of the study revealedthat the practicability of cooperative learning in the English classes
were poor. It was found that teachers did not offer the chance for all students equally to reflect
what they discussed in their group. Only few students or the active students present the points
what they discussed.The arrangement of chairs and tables not suitable to work different group
activities as it was observed.The chairs and tables were not easily movable. Finally, based on the
above findings, the following recommendations were forwarded.English teachers need training
on how to teach their students incooperatively. Thesuitability of chairs and tables have their own
impact on the teachers to implement CL. The first step of learning should be arranging classroom
conditions in the way suitable to implement different kinds of CLs. So that the administrators of
the schools should give due attention to the practicability of CL and should provide suitable
chairs and tables.
