The Effect of Type of Cooperative Learning Grouping on ESL Learners' Reading Comprehension Performance

Malaysia is a multi-cultural country and this is reflected in the diversity in the classroom population that requires teachers to constantly cater to these differing students' needs. It is believed that cooperative leaning is able to fulfil the requirements of current language learning classrooms; for it is able to address students' diversity and promote achievement. However, recent research has shown that there is a disjuncture between principles of contemporary cooperative leaning and Asian cultures. Therefore in this study, the researchers examined the effects of the type of cooperative learning grouping (heterogeneous and friendship) on learners' reading comprehension performance by employing a quasi-experimental design. This study involved 115 sixth semester local polytechnic students and data were collected using a reading comprehension performance test. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-test. The findings from the ANOVA and t-test showed significant main effects of friendship grouping in reading comprehension performance. Based on the research findings, friendship grouping in cooperative learning could be considered as a possible approach in encouraging tertiary students to be actively involved in their second language reading classroom.