Internationalisation of English language education in Taiwan: cooperative learning through drama in the elementary school

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how and whether cooperative learning through drama can be introduced to children's English language classrooms in Taiwan. Humanistic and educational internationalisation based on philosophy of John Dewey is to be applied as an alternative way for solving the problem caused by competitive globalisation and competitive learning. Chapter 1 sets the scene by indicating the essential features of competitive learning in Taiwan, and its negative impacts are presented. Chapter 2 analyses the background of the cause of competitive learning, and the essential educational mode focused on economic and competitive concerns are analysed. Chapter 3 examines competitive globalisation and its negative impacts on Taiwan's English education for children. Internationalisation with cooperative principles based on Dewey's philosophy is proposed as a doable way to solve the problems. Chapter 4 thus analyses cooperation and drama in educational theory and practice. Cooperative learning through drama is introduced in practice to bring about a change in children’s learning. Chapter 5 discusses how cooperative learning lessons are designed, implemented and reflected in the research project in the fieldwork. Action research is the method used in the fieldwork. Chapter 6 presents the children's experience and understanding of cooperative learning. The children's interview data is analysed and presented in a detailed way by applying grounded theory, and children's theory of how they conceptualise cooperative learning through drama is developed. Chapter 7 draws conclusion by discussing what could be done in relation to policy and classroom levels in children's English language learning. Suggestions and the limitations of a case study are also discussed. Reflections are presented as the final remarks of the theme of this research.