The purpose of this study is to investigate four students in grades six by interviewing them. It will find out how they personally perceive their own learning in group work and why they work in groups. In my investigation, I will rely on these two questions:

• How do my subjects reflect on their own learning during group work?
• Why do my subjects think that they work in groups?

For my study, I selected four students from the same school, two girls and two boys, who are 11 to 12 years old. The interviews were individual because I wanted to get a deeper view of how students perceive their own learning in groups and why they are working with a group of other students. Within my thesis, I have focused on the social constructivist theory. Other terms used are "life-world", the "horizon of understanding" and "learning by doing".

The study shows that students develop their social and democratic skills, along with their individual knowledge and learning when they work together in a group. Students agreed that language is the key to communicating and understanding the knowledge of social interaction. They felt that their individual learning was strengthened and developed as they shared their knowledge and experiences. Students felt that they learn many things, but above all to work together and explain things to each other, both of which are very important concepts. Students also felt that the democratic learning develops the most when they are happier and will practice listening to and respecting each other's thoughts and ideas in social relationships.

The results show that students think that they should learn to work with everyone. Students agree that it is important that they help each other to understand, whether Swedish is their mother tongue or an additional language. Moreover, students feel that they learn how theory and reality are related better, when they understand in a concrete way.