Recognition Memory of Vocabulary (RMV) and Reading Comprehension for EFL Learners in A Pesantren-Based Junior Secondary School

This paper reports a study that examines the effects of text-based incidental vocabulary learning on EFL high school students’ reading comprehension and explores their attitudes toward text-based incidental vocabulary learning. It was a quasi-experimental study with 70 students from a high school in Kien Giang province. These students were divided into two groups: the control group and the experimental group. The quantitative data from reading tests (for pre-test and post-test) were used to examine students’ reading comprehension over eight weeks. Questionnaires and the qualitative analysis from semi-structured interviews focus on their attitudes towards text-based vocabulary learning in reading comprehension. The findings indicate that text-based incidental vocabulary learning influenced positively students’ reading comprehension after the treatment and that students yielded positive attitudes towards text-based incidental vocabulary learning in their reading lessons.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0302/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

In this study, I analysed the reading culture and its influence on reading comprehension of learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Uganda. The data were collected by interviewing ten EFL teachers in order to gather their views of their learners’ reading culture and comprehension abilities. Data were analysed using Vroom’s Expectancy theory. Findings indicate that the EFL learners were enthusiastic about reading even beyond the classroom reading tasks. 30% of the teachers interviewed confirmed that the learners had a positive attitude towards reading as part of their language learning, hence a confirmation of their good reading culture. The rest of the teachers interviewed confirmed that 70% of the learners possess a poor reading culture. The study further confirmed the presence of a strong link between the learners’ reading culture and reading comprehension achievement. The majority of the teachers agreed that the positive reading culture exhibited by their EFL learners significantly contributed to their reading comprehension. The learners with a poor reading culture also exhibited poor reading comprehension abilities because they lacked frequent reading comprehension opportunities. The study concludes that the majority of EFL learners lack a good reading culture. There was a clear relationship between the reading culture and the learners’ attainment of reading comprehension. This is confirmed by the fact that in cases where the reading culture was positive, the learners’ reading comprehension abilities were better

<p>Reading Chinese is one of the most challenging tasks for learners of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL learners). Studies showed that effective use of strategies (e.g. inferring meaning from context) helps to enhance reading comprehension. However, so far, most studies about reading Chinese as a foreign language have focused on lower-level processing (e.g. word learning strategies, the effects of orthography on word acquisition, etc.). Studies about reading process and strategies of adult CFL learners engaging in independent Chinese text reading are extremely limited, and few studies compare reading strategies and perceptions of successful and less successful CFL readers. This study filled these gaps by investigating adult CFL learners’ reading strategies and comparing strategy use and perceptions of successful CFL readers and less successful ones. Using the Compensatory Model of Second Language Reading (Bernhardt, 2005; 2011) as the theoretical framework, this study answered three research questions with sub questions: 1. What are the reading strategies used by adult CFL learners? (a) What are overall reading strategies used by adult CFL readers? (b) What are effective strategy combinations used by adult CFL readers? 2. How do successful adult CFL readers apply and perceive reading strategies when reading in Chinese? 3. How do less successful adult CFL readers apply and perceive reading strategies when reading in Chinese? Qualitative research methods were used to collect and analyze the data. Twelve college level third-year Chinese learners were asked to read a Chinese text, finish a think-aloud task (verbally express their thought process), recall the content of the text, answer several text-related questions, and engage in semi-structured interviews. This study identified 14 bottom-up strategies and 12 top-down strategies. The effective reading strategy combinations used by CFL readers included 1) inferring word meaning by accessing context cues, character meaning, and mental lexical networks; 2) monitoring comprehension by using context information, rereading, summarizing, noticing text structure, paraphrasing, or translating difficult parts; 3) segmenting Chinese words by checking the dictionary, conducting grammar analysis, and referring to mental lexicons. Through comparing the cases of successful and less successful CFL readers, this study revealed that successful readers were good at using context information, monitoring comprehension, and distinguishing important text segments from less important ones. They showed confidence in applying reading strategies and consciously acquired and practiced using strategies while reading. Less successful readers, on the other hand, had more difficulties in decoding characters and words as well as understanding complicated sentence structures. They did not trust their ability to infer about words and phrases, and relied more on the dictionary and translation. In addition, compared with less successful readers, successful readers used more top-down strategies, and they had better metacognitive competences in applying a wide range of strategies effectively. The findings of this study provide useful pedagogical implications to improve Chinese reading instruction and a better understanding about reading Chinese as well as L2 reading.</p>

Reading comprehension plays a significant role in educational success. In spite of its importance, students still have difficulties in understanding texts. One solution to the problem of poor reading comprehension is the learning of reading strategies. The current study examined the effect of summarizing strategy on reading comprehension of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. Sixty-one students were selected and randomly divided into two control and experimental groups. The homogeneity of their proficiency level was established using a TOEFL proficiency test. All students in both groups participated in a reading comprehension test as pretest. The experimental group utilized summarizing strategy three times a week typically 45 minutes in duration for ten weeks. After each two week instruction, an immediate posttest was administered. At the end of the treatment, a post-test was administered to both groups. The findings of the study indicated that summarizing strategy has a significant effect on learners’ reading comprehension.

This paper investigated the impact of conjunctions on the reading comprehension of ESL learners. To this end, three different versions; original, local-conjunctions-free and global-conjunctions-free, of an IELTS reading test where the logico-semantic relationships had been manipulated were administered to 45 upper-intermediate subjects assigned to three equal groups. The results indicated that the performance of the groups on reading comprehension was significant: the group receiving the unmodified test outperformed the other two; and the group taking the local-conjunctions-free test performed better than the other. It was concluded that conjunctions employed to link and texture the information at the local and global levels across the text affected the reading comprehension of ESL learners, and more importantly that the global conjunctions influenced reading comprehension more than the local conjunctions.

The Effect of Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) and Content-based Language Teaching (CBLT) on the Iranian Intermediate ESP Learners’ Reading Comprehension

The role of language exposure on improving learner’s language skills is a known fact, it is proven with many research supported the claim that language exposure is indeed important. It is obvious for EFL learners to have enough reading comprehension skills to help them learn the language such as reading and understanding learning materials, understanding questions in a test, understanding instruction written in their assignment, etc. The problem lies on how EFL learners in Majalengka are conditioned to not have any English language exposure outside English class at school. The aims of this study is to find how English exposure affect the English reading comprehension of EFL learners who live in multilingual environtment with lots of non-English language exposure. The researcher use one group pre-test post-test design. The researcher find that the text-to-speech treatment was indeed showing an effect towards students’ reading comprehension. Text-to-Speech as Language Exposure is indeed has an effect towards Students’ Reading Comprehension. Unfortunately the effect is negative as the mean score between pre-test and post-test decreased by 12 or 26,5%. The researcher believe that language exposure should not affect students negatively at any way therefore the researcher suggest for the next research, students’ motivation, students’ attention span, students’ will, and students’ seriousness should be take acountable, increased, and kept high during the test in which it is crucial to the final results of the research.

While introducing reading comprehension activities into the CLIL classroom, it should be remembered that reading comprehension is goal-oriented and may be defined as searching for meaning and sense. In the CLIL classroom, this goal is not only to develop reading comprehension skills or search for meaning of particular words but also to expand content knowledge. Secondly, reading comprehension is the act of comprehension. Comprehension is a highly active constructive process, and it is here that the key to language learning as well as content learning lie. Finally, the process of reading comprehension is dynamic and strategic. In other words, the best idea is to introduce techniques and activities which will not be boring for the learners and which will require the use of various metacognitve strategies. The term “metacognitive awareness” is conceptualized as the ‘knowledge of the readers’ cognition relative to the reading process and the self-control mechanism they use to monitor and enhance comprehension” (Sheorey and Mokhtari 2001, p. 423), which is a critical component of skilled reading. The purpose of my study was to explore the role of metacognitive strategies in L2 reading comprehension. The participants were University students who learn content subjects in English and were asked take reading comprehensions test and to fill in metacognitive reading strategies questionnaire. The intention of this address is to discuss different metacognitive reading strategies used by the CLIL University learners.

This study aimed to examine the role played by the depth of vocabulary knowledge in the reading comprehension process of Korean EFL learners within the framework of the Simple View of Reading (SVR) (Gough & Tunmer, 1986). In addition to the two major SVR components, decoding and linguistic comprehension of English words, vocabulary depth, was added to the model to see whether it exerted any additional influence on the reading comprehension of Korean high school EFL learners. A total of 207 11th grade high school students in South Korea participated in this study by taking vocabulary breadth, vocabulary depth (analogy, antonym, and synonym), listening comprehension, decoding, and reading comprehension tests. The results were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The findings indicated that when vocabulary depth was considered in the SVR framework, it accounted for a unique and independent variance occurring in reading comprehension while controlling for oral language and decoding skills. In addition, direct effects of vocabulary depth on L2 reading comprehension and decoding abilities were observed, with a strong positive correlation between vocabulary depth and oral comprehension abilities. This study discusses the pedagogical implications for promoting depth of vocabulary knowledge in the Korean English-learning context.

Reading is an essential skill for language acquisition, especially for learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Reading comprehension is essential for academic success, thus teachers and researchers are consistently testing new strategies and resources to assist EFL students. Given the growing technological infrastructure many schools are forgoing traditional strategies for digital reading resources. Thus, the purpose of this meta-analysis investigates the effects of using strategy instruction versus technology-based instruction on the reading comprehension of EFL learners. A Meta-analysis of 17 studies (20 effect sizes) published between the years 2007 and 2016 was conducted. A three level inclusion and exclusion process was used to select studies based on the a priori criteria. The overall combined effect size for traditional strategies and technology-based strategies was (d=1.176), which is considered a large effect size. The findings of the moderator analysis suggest that the use of traditional reading strategy instruction or technology-based reading instruction is equally effective for supporting the reading comprehension of EFL students. Recommendations for enhanced teaching and learning are provided to support EFL student reading comprehension.

This study investigated the connection between translanguaging and reading comprehension of Filipino ESL intermediate learners. The respondents were intermediate pupils enrolled in the selected central schools in Bicol, Philippines. The respondents’ ages range from 8 to 12 years old, and 124 students (27.55%) were males while 326 students (72.44%) were females. The descriptive-correlational method was used in the study. The descriptive method was used to describe the reading performance of the ESL intermediate learners and their translanguaging factors, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to determine the relationship between the two variables. The primary instruments used were validated teacher-made reading comprehension test and translanguage factors survey questionnaire. Data disclosed that the general reading comprehension of the ESL intermediate learners along with vocabulary, drawing inferences, and getting the main idea, are very satisfactory. Meanwhile, the different translanguaging factors, along with personal, teacher, and social, were surveyed and identified in the study. The statistical test revealed that the reading comprehension of the respondents was significantly correlated with the identified translanguaging factors. Thus, it is recommended that teachers should promote group discussions and allow open interactions in the classroom. Teachers should allow the use of both the home language and English; employ translanguaging pedagogy in teaching reading; foster an understanding and acceptance of linguistic differences; promote multilingualism, and allow indigenous languages to be used in education to facilitate meaningful learning.

This study examines the bidirectional, cross-linguistic associations between language and word-level reading skills and reading comprehension for 51 students in grades 4 to 6 who speak Spanish as first language (L1) and English as second language (L2). Within-language predictors of reading comprehension were consistent with the simple view of reading. We found unidirectional cross-linguistic associations between Spanish word reading and English reading comprehension. However, the results do not support a cross-linguistic association between English word reading and Spanish reading comprehension. Specifically, results indicate that although L1 and L2 language and reading constructs correlate, L2 skills do not strongly contribute to L1 reading comprehension. Findings are discussed in terms of possible factors that might influence potential cross-language relations among Spanish and English measures.

The use of reading strategies plays an integral part in the reading comprehension level of students. However, English as a Second Language (ESL) learners are unaware of the impact of reading strategies on their reading comprehension level. Moreover, teachers also lack a solid foundation for teaching reading strategies to students and are unable to understand the reading strategies preferences of the students. Only a few studies have been conducted highlighting the significance of reading strategies on students’ comprehension levels, especially in the context of Maldivian secondary schools. The main objective of this study is to identify the use of reading strategies to improve the reading comprehension level of ESL learners in secondary school. This research employed an experimental design. A total of 118 students from grades 9 and 10 from a secondary school participated in the study. Two instruments were utilized to collect data: a questionnaire, a pre-test, and a post-test. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between reading strategies and comprehension achievement. Moreover, a significant difference in strategy use was found between male and female students. Recommendations include implementing school-wide reading programs, using think-aloud technique to model strategies, and consistent teacher training in Maldives as well as monitoring of students' reading strategies to improve comprehension and learning opportunities.

ABSTRACTAre there different reading skills (Davis, 1944; 1968; 1972) or is there just one‘basic’(Spearitt, 1972) or‘common’(Thorndike, 173) reading skill? Tests designed to measure some posited reading comprehension skills were given to advanced students of English as a Foreign Language. There were five tests: I) Vocabulary Recognition as measured by a multiple‐choice test, 2) Extraction of Meaning during reading as measured by open‐end questions, 3) Extraction of Meaning during and after reading as measured by a question‐cued recall test, 4) Fast and accurate reading as measured by a Word Intrusion Test, and 5)‘Overall reading proficiency’as measured by a modified cloze test. Results indicate the existence of two factors: Factor I which is connected with‘receptive’reading skills, and Factor 2 which is connected with‘productive’reading skills. It is suggested that reading comprehension tests of extended discourse in English as a Foreign Language which do not tap‘productive’reading skills, such as are required in recall (and in real life), are only partial tests of reading comprehension.

The present study examined the effects of gender and grade level on English reading comprehension proficiency of young Korean English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners. Through a nationwide reading comprehension assessment event, nine hundred seventy-nine young Korean EFL learners in Korean elementary school grades 1 through 6 were tested for their English reading comprehension measures. Statical analysis was conducted to investigate between and within group differences as well as possible interactional effect of gender and grade level. Results showed significant main effects of gender and grade level on reading comprehension. However, there was no interactional effect of gender and grade level on English reading comprehension of the young Korean EFL learners.