This volume is a collection of papers focused on a single theme, cooperative learning, written by classroom teachers of varying experience levels. This book introduces cooperative learning and gives examples of cooperative learning activities, units, and systems created by teachers in Japan, The United States, and Canada, who are currently using these methods. Cooperative learning is a group learning activity organized so that learning is dependent on the socially structured exchange of information between learners in groups, and in which each learner is held accountable for his or her own learning and is motivated to increase the learning of others. The book is divided into sections highlighting systems, units, and activities. Systems, the largest form of cooperative learning, describes an entire way of presenting any language item or content. These systems are independent of any content and can be used to teach anything. Units are an example of extended cooperative learning activity or sets of activities with a single theme or goal that stretch over several classes, a semester, or a whole year. Activities are short cooperative learning bits that can be as short as ten minutes or cover a complete class period. The book ends with a section on evaluation. An instant index is included which presents key words for topic, institutional level, skills practiced, an abstract, and author contact information for each of the 14 chapters of text. An annotated bibliography is appended, covering books, commercial and non-profit organizations, newsletters, and web resources. Topics include: cooperative learning in Japan; implementing cooperative learning in language learning setting; an EFL-NGO forum integrating cooperative learning and global issues; developing oral fluency and interactive group skills through cooperative learning techniques; generating ideas cooperatively in a writing class; cooperative learning and assessment and evaluation. (KFT)