STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS VIA GROUP WORK IN AN ESL CLASSROOM IN HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTION

Abstract

Leadership skills could be developed and enhanced through group work in an ESL classroom. Working in groups enables students to develop and apply their leadership skills in managing their group members. It is important for English Language Instructors to provide the opportunity for students in the ESL classroom to not only be able to communicate interactively in English among their group members but also able to learn the skills in managing the group. Thu, this study aims to investigate the students’ perception on leadership while working in groups. A qualitative approach that utilises a semi structed interview was conducted on 45 participants from 6 different classes. The findings of this study revealed three main areas that the participants perceived influences their leadership skills when working in groups. The two main areas are 1) the challenges that they face when managing a group and 2) the solutions that they took to overcome the challenges. The findings of this study are useful not only to English language instructors but also to students in order to have a better understanding on the issues that were faced by the students in managing a group in an ESL classroom in Higher Learning Institution.