POTENTIAL EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS OF INCORPORATING STRUCTURED CONTROVERSY IN EFL CONTEXT AND ITS POSSIBLE CHALLENGES

This paper attempts to explore potential educational benefits and challenges of
implementing structured controversy in EFL learning at university level. Structured
controversy is a model of cooperative learning that occupy intellectual conflict to
facilitate students broaden and deepen understanding related to particular issue/ topic. It is
asserted that providing students with opportunities to engage in structured controversy
activities enables them to have their own ideas and conclusions challenged by advocates
of an opposing position. Students are better able to develop a strong argument in defining
and interpreting issues, developing and evaluating solutions, developing a plan based on a
selected solution, and reflecting on the learning outcomes. Thus, at least threefold
benefits are gained through the process of structured controversy: (a) giving students a
chance to work collaboratively in free risk situation, (b) providing negotiation of meaning
and peer assistance, and (c) shaping college students’ high order thinking. As the
application of structured controversy brings benefits much in learning and provides
support both theories and empirical studies, teachers are suggested to incorporate it in
their teaching especially in EFL context.