A questionnaire teachers can use with students at the beginning of a course

YES NO

1) Do you speak another language apart from your native one?
2) Why do you want to learn English?
Because you like it?
For your job?
To travel?
3) Do you have previous knowledge of English?
4) Do you like communicating with other people?
5) Do you think you learn best if you work with books?
6) Do you like writing activities?
7) Do you like oral activities?
8) Do you prefer working :
In groups?
In pairs?
or individually?
10) Are you in contact with the language at any moment of your day?

What are the pros and cons of using pairwork and groupwork in the classroom?

I think that the pros of pairwork/groupwork are that they increase opportunities for practising the language, enable students to take risks with the language and to see if they can negotiate meaning, therefore favours cooperative language learning and build self-confidence. Also, it trains students to use the foreign language independently of the teacher.

As regards the cons I believe that some students feel shy when working in pairs, particularly when there are differences in gender, age, language level, personality or if one student corrects the grammar of another or if one of the students is flirting with the other. Also, some talkative learners may dominate pair/group work and block the language production of their partners. Personality clashes between partners is important. The tension our students may feel when working with a classmate that they don’t get on well with could make them feel annoyed and completely demotivated.

My little experience says that pairwork or groupwork is effective when there is a motivating and authentic activity, the purpose of working in pairs/groups is clear, students feel comfortable with their classmates, and the organization of the activity and sitting arrangement is effective too.
I am absolutely sure that there are many other important implicatures for this to be successful, so come on let’s think a bit more about some others!