How to help students deal with conflict in group work

Rachael Roberts
children sat at a desk working together

Is avoiding conflict always a good thing?

Why is it that some groups work smoothly together, whereas for others it always seems to end in arguments? It may seem logical to avoid group work with classes where it often leads to disagreement, but is there such a thing as healthy disagreement?

Perhaps the groups that appear to be working well together are actually just letting one or two people do everything? This would certainly avoid conflict, but they might also be avoiding learning very much.?

Sometimes conflict is a necessary step that teachers (of all subjects, not just language teachers) have to acknowledge as an important part of a learner's development.?

Conflict in group work
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree app can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

The psychologist famously argued that conflict within groups is entirely normal, and can even be desirable. the typical stages of groups learning to work together effectively as Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing:

Forming

When the group is forming, most members will be polite. They will be looking to you or to a more confident group member to take the lead. Many of the group members may actually be quite disengaged.?

Storming

Storming happens as they start to feel more confident and comfortable within the group, and willing to take a more active role. People may be trying to sort out what the unspoken rules are, or what roles everyone is taking. Or they may be more willing to point out potential problems.?

Norming

Norming is when things start to sort themselves out and people are working together better. Its very common for teams to keep going back and forth between storming and norming for quite a while.?

Performing

Finally, performing is when the team successfully achieves the goal.?

Essentially, Tuckman was saying that, without at least some conflict or storming, groups are unlikely to be able to perform successfully. It is necessary to go through this stage and out the other side.?

Being able to deal effectively with conflict is a very valuable skill, both at school and in life. So how can we help students to develop this skill??

Learning how to manage conflict

Listening is the most important skill we can teach our language students. Unfortunately, many of us are not as good at listening as we might think. A lot of the time, we are busy thinking about what we are going to say next, or even thinking about something else altogether.?

Students can practice active listening by having to reflect back on what their partner has said. For example: So youre saying that or by asking relevant questions.

If feelings are running high, we can teach them to still let the other person finish. They should then check they have understood, rather than jumping in too quickly with their own side of the story.?

We can also encourage empathy by asking students to put themselves into the other students position. They should try and explain how they think they are feeling, or why they have such a different opinion.?

Finally, we can get students into problem-solving mode, rather than staying with personal feelings. We can do this by asking them to suggest ways of coming to an agreement.

As long as it is managed well and doesnt get out of hand, conflict and disagreement can ultimately lead to better outcomes than overly polite agreement, because more is at stake.?

So, make sure to help students develop the confidence to deal with conflict in group work and disagree with each other, but also the interpersonal skills to do so in a productive and empathic way.??

More blogs from app

  • Expressing love around the world: Interesting facts and how to say "I love you" in different languages

    By Sam Colley
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Love is a universal language that transcends borders, cultures and languages. For those learning another language, understanding how to express love in various tongues can be both fascinating and useful. Whether you're planning to travel, connect with friends from different backgrounds, or simply expand your linguistic repertoire, knowing how to say "I love you" in different languages as well as the cultural context, can be a beautiful way to show appreciation and affection. Let's take a look at some of the many ways to express this timeless sentiment and some interesting facts.

    1. Cultural nuances:

    In many cultures, the way you express love can carry different weights and meanings. For example, in Japanese, "ۤƤ" (aishiteru) is a very strong expression of love, often reserved for serious relationships, whereas "ä" (daisuki) is more commonly used among friends and family.
    However, French, often called the language of love, uses "je t'aime" to express love as a romantic phrase that can be used for both partners and close family members.

    2. Gender differences:

    Some languages have gender-specific ways of saying "I love you." For instance, in Arabic, "????" (a?ibbuka) is used when a woman says "I love you" to a man, and "????" (a?ibbuki) is used when a man says it to a woman. Similarly, in Hindi, men say "??? ????? ????? ???? ???" (main tumse pyaar karta hoon) and women say "??? ????? ????? ???? ???" (main tumse pyaar karti hoon).

    3. Formal vs. informal:

    Some languages have formal and informal ways of expressing love. In Spanish, "te amo" is more formal and used for romantic love, while "te quiero" is more casual and can be used for friends and family.
    ?

  • Understand your English level

    By Sam Colley
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Learning English as a second language is a journey that can be fun and tough. A key part of this journey is knowing your current skill level. The Global Scale of English (GSE) helps learners check their skills. The GSE is a scale from 10 to 90 that measures English ability. It gives clear information about what learners can do at each level. In this blog, well look at how to find out your English level using GSE scores, levels, and "I can..." statements.

    Why understanding your English level matters

    You may wonder, Why is it important for me to know my language level? If you start studying without knowing your skill level, you might feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or find learning too easy and be put off or not make any learning progress.
    Knowing your English level helps you in many ways, such as to:

    1. Set realistic goals: Tailor your learning objectives to your current abilities.
    2. Choose appropriate materials: Select books, courses, and resources that match your proficiency.
    3. Track progress: Measure improvement over time and stay motivated.

    GSE levels and what they mean

    The GSE levels range from Starter to Expert, each with specific "I can..." statements that describe what you should be able to do at that level. Heres a breakdown of each level, along with some practical examples:

  • English is the language of AI - why teaching it matters

    By Sam Colley
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    In the rapidly evolving age of artificial intelligence (AI), language plays a critical role in shaping the future of technology. English, in particular, has emerged as the dominant language in the AI domain, driving innovations, collaboration and accessibility. As we delve deeper into the digital age, the importance of teaching English becomes increasingly evident. Here are some key points that underscore why English is essential in the realm of AI and why its teaching matters.

    Global collaboration and research

    AI is a field that thrives on collaboration and the sharing of knowledge. Researchers, developers and engineers worldwide contribute to the collective advancement of AI technologies. English is the common linguistic thread that binds this global community together, enabling seamless communication and collaboration among these diverse professionals.

    By teaching English, we empower individuals from various linguistic backgrounds to participate in global research projects, attend international conferences and publish their findings in widely accessible journals. This global exchange of ideas not only accelerates the pace of AI innovation but ensures that advancements are inclusive and representative of a wide array of perspectives.

    Access to educational resources and technical documentation

    Many AI research papers, educational materials, textbooks, online courses and technical documents are published in English. Leading AI platforms, libraries and frameworks, offer extensive documentation and support primarily in English.

    By equipping individuals with English language skills, we empower them to access these invaluable resources. This democratizes the learning process, allowing aspiring AI practitioners from non-English-speaking regions to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to contribute effectively to the field.

    Enhancing communication and language learning with AI systems

    As AI systems become more integrated into our daily lives, the ability to communicate effectively with these systems is paramount. Many AI-driven applications, from virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to customer service chatbots, operate predominantly in English. Teaching English ensures that users can interact seamlessly with these technologies, maximizing their utility and enhancing user experience.

    Moreover, as continues to advance, proficiency in English allows individuals to better understand and contribute to the development of more sophisticated and intuitive AI communication interfaces.
    ?