Scope of Cooperative Language Learning Opportunities in the EFL Classes in Bangladesh: A Study among Higher Secondary Students

Mohammad Ali & Shah Sadia Afrin

Jan-Feb-Mar

Abstract
This study examines the opportunities for Cooperative Language Learning (CLL) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms at the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) level in Bangladesh and explores the challenges to its implementation. Using a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, data were gathered from 320 students across 32 institutions (both rural and urban) from all eight education boards in Bangladesh through a structured questionnaire. The results highlight a significant and consistent urban-rural gap. Urban students report notably higher and more regular exposure to various cooperative learning activities, such as collaborative writing, role-plays, and group projects, with agreement levels between 52% and 72%. Conversely, rural students report much lower exposure (12% to 40%) and no strong agreement for any cooperative practice. While both rural and urban students recognize large class sizes as a major obstacle, rural students additionally face challenges related to infrastructure and a persistent teacher-centered culture. Despite limited exposure, rural students surprisingly have a stronger belief in the effectiveness of cooperative learning. The study concludes that the potential for CLL in Bangladesh is not only limited but also inherently unequal, resulting in a two-tiered education system where geography influences access to communicative, learner-centered teaching. Recommendations include tailored teacher training, curriculum reforms to emphasize collaborative skills, targeted infrastructure investments for rural schools, and the development of low-anxiety learning routines to bridge educational gaps and promote equitable implementation of the national curriculum.

Keyword: Cooperative Language Learning, EFL, Higher Secondary Education, Urban-Rural Divide, Educational Inequality, Bangladesh

Research Area: ELT

Country: Bangladesh

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