A Proposal to Combine Cooperative Learning and Peace Education in a Foreign Language Subject

Abstract

The present article offers a proposal for teaching using cooperative activities within the framework of peace education in a foreign language subject. The said activities imply that students work in groups in order to accomplish a common goal, and therefore they are involved in the teaching-learning process. This research thus aims at offering a pedagogical proposal based on peace education by showing that the principles of peace education are useful for students to be successful in cooperative activities because they deal with global issues and social and peace-related content. They also promote negotiation, peaceful conflict resolution, dialogue and respect for diversity. The study reveals that the combination of peace education and cooperative learning allows students to acquire not only content but also social competences such as critical thinking, cooperation, empathy, assertiveness, conflict resolution and active listening, among others. The combination of cooperative learning and peace education offers the opportunity to use pedagogy to produce social transformation because it promotes the teaching of values throughout the teaching-learning process. In this sense, peace education can contribute to developing global and human values so that students can make a contribution to improving the world.