A cultural perspective on group work

Many practitioners have emphasized the value of group work in discussions of methodological issues in ELT. However, very few have considered it from a cultural perspective. This article advocates the use of group work for a group of learners from a Chinese cultural background, where, to some extent, Confucian values still prevail. It is argued that, in certain teaching situations, group work is an appropriate methodological tool for such learners, given that it is sensitive to the three key Confucian values: co-operation, the concept of ‘face’, and self-effacement. This article is also of relevance to those teaching other nationalities, since the underlying pedagogic philosophy of much ELT material is to foster collaborative learning strategies and create a non-stressful learning environment for the student—both of which can be considered as extensions of the Confucian values of co-operation and the concept of ‘face’.