Effects of an Optimization Method to Determine Optimal Complementary Learning Clusters on Iranian EFL Learners' Language Proficiency

Cooperative learning has widely been used as a teaching method in English class around the world,and has attracted worldwide attention for its remarkable achievement. This study was an attemptto investigate the effects of an optimization method named genetic algorithm to determine optimalcomplementary learning clusters on Iranian EFL learners' English proficiency. The subjects of thismixed method study were 40 male students at intermediate level with the age of 12-17, and thestudy was done in winter, 2016, in a private language institute in Isfahan, Iran. They were dividedin two groups, the experimental group (EG) who were taught cooperative learning with optimalclustering, and the control group (CG) who were thought traditional cooperative learning. At thequantitative phase, an Independent Samples T-test was used to compare the means of pre andposttests. The results indicated that, in listening, speaking, and vocabulary, the subjects'performances in EG were significantly better than CG. At the qualitative phase, the findings of theinterviews revealed that Iranian EFL learners had positive attitudes towards using cooperativelearning in improving their English knowledge. This study could benefit teachers, students, andEnglish private institutes in teaching and learning process. It could also help language designers,policy makers, and administrators employing optimization methods to facilitate teaching Englishskills, and components.