Peer to Peer Learning

One topic that comes up frequently in discussions among the teen groups is peer pressure. And this pressure is useful when we channel it to build the qualities of a Cambridge learner, such as confidence, responsibility, invention, engagement, and reflection. Positive peer pressure can encourage students to engage in group discussions about a variety of topics they are familiar with and to ask questions about concepts without holding back. Additionally, it inspires students to conduct independent research and study. Peer teaching in language classes has a phenomenal impact because it keeps students engaged and highly motivated while they develop the three primary Cs of First Language English teaching objectives: to communicate, to critically think, and to be creative. Let us examine several methods of instruction used in peer teaching and their results.

Peer tutoring 

The exacting requirements of the students might occasionally cause language classes to become stereotyped and stagnate. Active learning techniques might become overused. Even academically motivated students may struggle to keep up when it comes to writing lengthy essays. Peer tutoring can be effective in this situation since students can relate well to their age-related barriers to classroom learning, and the tutor can provide instances where the students can easily relate. This might be carried out between the same age groups or within the same level. In cross-age groups, a senior student can identify the techniques that played an important role in improving their exam results.

Peer buddy

In order to close the achievement disparities, assign a peer buddy pair, primarily consisting of a strong and a weak student. This tactic promotes student participation in activities and on-time assignment completion. It is obvious that frequent and consistent reading habits lead to writing with flair and correctness. A reader who reads frequently will always have a wealth of thoughts and a well-developed imagination that inspire writing. Reading aloud to classmates and having an in-depth discussion on the same topic can lead to a better understanding of great speeches, poetry, excerpts, and quotes, which has been a consistent and valuable exercise in English classes. Moreover, pupils develop a love for reading, thereby enabling them to develop the essential critical thinking skills needed for a twenty-first century learner.

Peer feedback

Peer review can occur in a group or in a one-on-one session. The students can understand the learning gaps by using the checklist or the rubric provided by the facilitator. The learners will be made to enhance their quality of writing through various drafts. The above process reassures the ability to build trust among peers in sharing opinions, resulting in the timely completion of the tasks given. For instance, the ‘Spin in the Yarn’ activity is the perfect example of the peer feedback mechanism, which ensures the comprehensive understanding of constructive criticism from one student to the next.

Peer stop

Each of the aforementioned approaches involves a sequential, step-by-step procedure that results in reflection among the peers. To learn and master the techniques, workstations can be employed. Students make their arguments while keeping in mind that their reflections are inferential and objective. The class discusses these reflections, and all the points are compiled for improved results. This not only demonstrates the performance but would also lead to the realization of improved learning. 

In the classroom, the teacher must have complete control over everything that takes place. It is necessary to keep a record of the observations made throughout each session for future use. Thus, planning is necessary. Students should get instructor reflections and a summary of the events in order to reflect on and revise their learning strategies, as well as to supplement and reinforce their learning needs. Differentiation and scaffolding are strongly supported by peer teaching to ensure an inclusive learning environment. We can surely give this a try, can’t we?