Students’ Perception and Practice of Writing through Peer-led Learning (PLL) at Bahir Dar University

Journal Title: STAR Journal - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 1

Abstract

This study endeavored to probe into Bahir Dar University (IBOU) English majoring students' perceptions and practice of learning writing through ‘one-to-five' peer-led organisation (called PLTL at BDU). The number of English major students at BDU in the 2013/14 Academic Year was only 19, and all were included in the study. Data were gathered through questionnaire and interview and were analyzed comparing obtained mean against determined expected mean, rank order and narration of the interview responses. The results of the study indicated that participants favored the fixed ‘one-to-five’ peer-led grouping, and witnessed its significance in learning writing. They also esteemed that the tasks and materials they used for practicing writing during peer discussion were of great help to their classroom learning. However, they said that teacher’s support and commitment, peer leaders’ assistance and commitment as well as peer members’ zeal and participation was negligible. It was also found that participants favored teacher-guided learning, tutor-guided learning, collaborative learning through varying groups, individual-based learning, and collaborative learning in fixed groups in that order. The interviewees had also unveiled that teacher’s support and peer-learners' capacity and commitment as well as group members’ commitment was far below the expected. Group members also tended to depend on one or two students for all tasks given to groups. Hence, they thought that PLTL had not achieved the objective it was sought to get done. Finally, it was concluded that though students’ favored the fixed, ‘one-to-five' peer led organisation in learning writing, they practically prioritized teacher-guided learning probably because of the drawbacks they observed, as they reported it in the interview, in the practical implementation of the system. So, it was recommended that teachers, peer leaders and group members should devotedly engage in the system for its effectiveness. It was also recommended that BDU should devise a strategy and guideline that could strictly be followed by the different parties to get the maximum benefit from PLTL; that is, the ‘one-to-five' group discussion to enhance students’ writing ability.

Authors and Affiliations

Abiy Yigzaw| Department of English, Faculty of Humanities, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Keywords

Related Articles

Ferromagnetic Behavior in Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized using Coprecipitation Technique

Zinc ferrite have been produced and used by humans since long time, however understanding of ZnFe2O4 as a nano structured materials is very useful in order to be used for technological applications. ZnFe2O4 structural,...

Status and Woody Plant Species Diversity in Tara Gedam Forest, Northern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Tara Gedam forest with the objective of determining the status and the woody plant species diversity of Tara Gedam forest so as to recommend the conservation of the forest and rehabilitation...

Elemental Analysis and Biological Activities of Chrysophyllum roxburghii G. Don (Sapotaceae) Leaves

The present study was performed to estimate elementals and to determine bioactivities namely anticariogenic, antioxidant, pancreatic lipase inhibitory and cytotoxic activity of Chrysophyllum roxburghii leaves. Elemental...

Effect of Particle Size on the Structural and Magnetic Properties of Nanocrystalline Zinc Ferrite

ZnFe2O4 is one of the most important technological material having applications in radio engineering, radio technology, semiconductors, bio-medical applications etc. ZnFe2O4 when in bulk form shows paramagnetic behavio...

Teachers’ Emotional Intelligence and Sense of Self-efficacy Beliefs: A study on Second Cycle Public Primary School EFL Teachers in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to examine second cycle public primary school English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers‟ level of emotional intelligence (EI) and self-efficacy beliefs and the relationship between the...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP9769
  • DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/star.v4i1.32
  • Views 322
  • Downloads 12

How To Cite

Abiy Yigzaw (2015). Students’ Perception and Practice of Writing through Peer-led Learning (PLL) at Bahir Dar University. STAR Journal, 4(1), 197-202. https://europub.co.uk./articles/-A-9769