Abstract:
The general objective of the study is to investigate the major factors that that impede group
work activities in line with participation in speaking lesson in Bedessa Secondary school. The
target population of the present study were English teachers and grade nine and ten students.
Generally, a total of 184 (4 teachers and 180 students) were selected as samples by using both
probability and non-probability sampling techniques. To gather relevant information from
respondents the researcher used questionnaire, focus group discussion and observation. This research
followed a mixed methods research design. The researcher used both quantitative and qualitative
methods to analyze the data. The analysis of the data was made using descriptive statistics and
thematization. The results of the study disclosed that Most research findings reveal that group
work is the right technique for developing students’ language use and increasing their
classroom oral participation in interactional environment. It is also indicated that it helps
them in developing their self confidence and reducing their classroom anxiety and inhibition.
In this regard, the findings of this study showed that students’ perception about group work
was fairly good though it depends on the nature of the lesson topic. The study also investigated
that students’ interest and motivation to participate in group work tasks and activities is fairly
positive. However, the analysis of the classroom observation showed that the class size one of the
biggest challenges for the effective implementation of group work activates.The study further revealed
higher achiever students’ domination, time consuming nature of the task, large class size and
sitting arrangement, mother tongue interference, shyness and inhibition were the major
factors that affect students’ participation during group work activities. Furthermore, this
study revealed that group work helps to improve students’ speaking skills and maximizes their
learning by assigning individual roles and shared responsibilities. However, the various
challenges which hinder students’ motivation and interest to participate during cooperative
group work as well as other teacher related factors negatively affected students’ participation
during the group work activities in EFL classes in Bedessa Secondary School. Finally, the
research suggested more detailed investigation on other schools in West Hararge Zone.
