Group Dynamics in the Language Classroom

Book excerpt: Working, learning and living in groups is a central feature of humans, and therefore the study of groups called group dynamics is a vibrant academic field, overlapping diverse areas such as psychology, sociology, business studies and political science. It is also highly relevant to language education because the success of classroom learning is very much dependent on how students relate to each other, what the classroom climate is like, what roles the teacher and the learners play and, more generally, how well students can cooperate and communicate with each other. This innovative book addresses these issues and offers practical advice on how to manage language learner groups in a way that they develop into cohesive and productive teams. Educators interested in communicative language teaching will particularly welcome this book as a useful guide in their day-to-day teaching practice.