COOPERATIVE INTEGRATED READING COMPOSITION (CIRC): IMPACT ON READING COMPREHENSION ACHIEVEMENT IN ENGLISH AMONG SEVENTH GRADERS

Cooperative approach presents an example of an “innovative approach” that constitutes a paradigm shift in the area of language teaching. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the Cooperative Learning Approach-Cooperative Integrated Reading Composition (CIRC) on the Reading Comprehension Achievement in English among seventh graders. Cooperative Learning was compared with conventional teaching learning classroom structure using an experimental design. 140 students of seventh class were randomly selected out of which 70 students formed Experimental Group (E) and 70 students formed Control Group (C). Reading Comprehension Achievement Test in English and Instructional Material were developed by the investigators themselves. Whole teaching - learning process was carried out for eight weeks only. At the end of the experiment, Reading Comprehension Achievement test in English was given to the subjects. Data were analyzed by using t-test. The findings revealed that Experimental Group outscored significantly Control Group on post-test showing the obvious supremacy of Co-operative Learning Technique (CIRC) over Conventional Method of teaching.