The Efficacy of Novel Pre-activity Tasks on Macroskills: The Case of Group Discussion on Reading Comprehension

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 794
Author(s):  
Hooshang Khoshsima ◽  
Mahboobeh Khosravani
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Spss Software ◽  
Experimental Group

The main concern of most researchers in the field of second and foreign language teaching is lessening the problems and eliminating the hinders on the way of learning a language. The importance of reading skill in the process of teaching and learning different languages is undeniable for everyone. The main aim of this study was to examine the effects of group discussion strategy as a pre- activity task on reading ability. To this aim, 27 Iranian EFL learners, who were at the same level –intermediate- studying at Shokuh and Safir Institutes, Birjand, Iran were chosen. Two groups- one control and one experimental group- were studied. In control group the conventional method was used in teaching reading, while in experimental group, group discussion pre-activity task was administered. Both groups met the same level -Intermediate. At the end, the obtained data of the tests was analyzed by SPSS software. According to the obtained data, it can be strongly concluded that group discussion has no significant effect on reading comprehension. This study can help teachers and syllabus designers in choosing and applying an effective pre-activity task which really help the learners in reading classes.

scholarly journals Applying Sight Translation as a Means to Enhance Reading Ability of Iranian EFL Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Moslem Fatollahi
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Instruction ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Iranian Context ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

<p>Sight translation is the oral translation of a written text and is a mixture of translation and interpreting. Sight translation is a widely-used activity in translation training programs. Yet, this mode of translation has rarely been applied as a reading instruction technique in Iranian EFL instruction context in spite of the growing interest in using sight translation in language teaching and learning. This study aims at investigating the effect of sight translation on the reading comprehension ability of Iranian undergraduate EFL students. This is a quasi-experimental study involving treatment. To this end, four reading comprehension classes involving 70 learners were divided into two groups, with the experimental one receiving reading instruction with sight translation exercises and the control group receiving reading instruction without sight translation exercises. The posttest results revealed that the experimental group performing sight translation exercises in classroom outperformed the control group who had not engaged in sight translation. This study has implications for ELT instructors and learners in an Iranian context as they can use sight translation exercises as an effective technique for improving the reading comprehension ability of their learners.</p>

scholarly journals Improving Students' Reading Comprehension of Report Text with KWL Strategy

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-36
Author(s):  
Nudiya Afiya Farha ◽  
Rohani Rohani
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Eleventh Graders ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Sample Test ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Significant Achievement ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Report Text

ABSTRACT This research was carried out to know the effectiveness of implementing KWL strategy to improve students’ reading comprehension of report text and to know whether there is a significant achievement difference between students who were taught with KWL strategy and those who were not. The instrument used was a multiple choice reading comprehension test. Seventy two eleventh graders of SMA Negeri 1 Bae Kudus were selected as the sample. They were divided equally into experimental and control group. The data collection involved pre-test, treatments, and post-test. The result of the implementation of KWL strategy in the experimental group improved the students’ participation, motivation, and interest during teaching and learning process. In addition, the results of pre-test and post-test showed that mean score of the experimental group had a higher increase from 74.58 to 90.97 than the control group (from 72.77 to 87.77). However, the Independent Sample Test showed there was no significant achievement difference between the students who were taught with KWL strategy and those who were not. (1.80) was higher than.  Keywords: Quasi-experimental; KWL strategy; reading comprehension; report text

scholarly journals Scrambled Cloze Procedure: Does It Influence EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension and Writing Performance?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 815
Author(s):  
Jahanbakhsh Nikoopour ◽  
Mino Bargnil
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Writing Performance ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cloze Procedure ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

The present study investigated the effect of using scrambled cloze procedure on reading and writing among intermediate EFL learners. To fulfill the purpose of the study, 60 participants were tested on a PET test, from whom 48 homogeneous participants were selected and assigned randomly to two groups of 25 and 23, as experimental and control group. Then, both groups were given a pre-test of writing and reading comprehension. During 14 sessions, the experimental group were provided with scrambled cloze samples and tasks while practicing paragraph writing and reading, whereas the control group did not, while they were practicing paragraph writing and reading. At the end, the two groups were tested in reading comprehension and writing, based on a posttest. Two raters scored the writing samples collected from two groups in the pre and posttest. Pearson correlation was used to compute the inter-rater reliability. The results showed the experimental group outperformed the control group in paragraph writing and reading comprehension. However, it was found that gender did not make a significant difference in reading comprehension and writing performance.

scholarly journals The Impact of Smartboard on Preparatory Year EFL Learners’ Motivation at a Saudi University

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Waqar Ahmad ◽  
Zuraina Ali ◽  
Muhammad Aslam Sipra ◽  
Imtiaz Hassan Taj
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
Preparatory Year ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Smartboards, which are now widely used in the teaching and learning process in Saudi Arabia, have turned the traditional environments of the classrooms, especially the EFL classrooms to be more interesting and encouraging. Literature reviews suggest that Saudi students usually lack motivation for studying English as a foreign language. This study tends to investigate the impact of Smartboards on preparatory year EFL learners motivation at a Saudi university. Two intact groups were selected, in which one was termed as experimental and the second as control group. The experimental group was taught using the Smartboard while the control group was taught with the traditional whiteboard, pen and book method. The treatment was given for seven weeks. A questionnaire was administered to both the groups at the beginning and the end of the study. The data was analysed using the SPSS and the results showed that there was significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of motivation.  

scholarly journals Improving Reading Comprehension Using Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL)

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Yudha Aprizani
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Direct Instruction ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
Contextual Teaching ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Instruction Approach

This study aimed to find out whether teaching-learning reading comprehension using Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) would get better results than using Direct Instruction approach. The research used a quantitative method. The population of the research was students from the Islamic University of Kalimantan Muhammad Arsyad Al-Banjari. The researcher used cluster random sampling to select two sample groups, the control group and the experimental group. The control group with 25 students was the class that continued to use the Direct Instruction approach. The experimental group, with 20 students, was the class tested using the CTL approach. The test was a written test with five multiple choice questions plus an essay test. The test was used to obtain the data. The students’ scores were the data for the study of reading comprehension comparing CTL and Direct Instruction. Based on the results of the study, the researcher found that CTL was more effective than Direct Instruction because the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted so that CTL was found to be better for teaching reading skills. CTL encourages materials that are related to the students’ surrounding so that it helps them use English related to their daily activities.

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF HERRINGBONE TECHNIQUE ON THE STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN READING COMPREHENSION ON RECOUNT TEXT

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-100
Author(s):  
Sam Roberto Andre Hasian Lumbantobing ◽  
Hilman Pardede ◽  
Herman Herman
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Test Score ◽  
Alternative Hypothesis ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Tenth Grade ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Experimental Group

This research is a study of improving students’ ability in reading comprehension. The aim was to find out whether the use of Herringbone technique would bring a significant difference in teaching reading comprehension through Recount text, compared with the result before the students being treated. The study was conducted in the tenth grade students of SMA N 4 Pematangsiantar. The research method used was the experimental design, where the Experimental group was the PMIA 3 class, and the PMIA 2 class as the control class. Both of the classes had 34 students in each of it. The data were obtained through pre-test, treatment and post test. The pre-test was held to know the students’ basic ability or score before treatment was given. Meanwhile, the post test was held to know the students’ achievement and significant effect after the students were taught using Herringbone technique. Finding of the research showed that both groups had a significant improvement in their reading ability after being treated and passed the KKM. The Control group, which the pre-test score was 60, made an improvement shown in their post-test score in amount of 70,44. The experimental group, the group which the researcher treated the Herringbone technique to them, had a higher improvement than the control group. The average score of pre-test in this group was about 54,41 where then being improved up to 78,97. The score of t-test (3,981) was higher than t-table (1,668) at the level of significance 5% for two tailed test, so Null Hypothesis is rejected and Alternative Hypothesis is accepted.

scholarly journals Effect of Paper and E-Dictionaries on Iranian EFL Learners' Reading Comprehension

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Shiva Grami ◽  
Mahmood Hashemian
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Treatment Design

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of paper and e-dictionaries on Iranian intermediate learners' reading comprehension. To this end, 90 female English Foreign language learners were randomly selected and assigned into 2 experimental groups (e-dictionaries and paper dictionaries groups) and 1 control group. All the groups took a pretest using no dictionaries. After 2 weeks of treatment design for the experimental groups, all the 3 groups took part in the posttest. The experimental groups did their task with their relevant dictionaries, whereas the control group did their task without using any kind of dictionary. Data were analyzed through analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and paired samples t test. Results showed that the participants’ reading comprehension improved from the pretest to the posttest in both experimental groups. Results also indicated that the learners in the e-dictionaries group outperformed those in the paper dictionaries group. The outcome of study reveals that e-dictionaries could improve students’ reading comprehension by motivating them, shortening the time of searching words and reading a text, and increasing the number of look ups. 

scholarly journals Self-directed Learning via Contemplative Teaching to Promote Reading Comprehension Ability

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Giveh
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
L2 Instruction ◽  
Experimental Group

The present study tried to investigate one of the options for improving self-directed learning in Iranian EFL learners, i.e., contemplative L2 instruction with a flavor of transformative instruction. Accordingly, it adopted a quasi-experimental design to investigate the influential effects that contemplative teaching would exert on Iranian EFL learners&rsquo; L2 self-directed learning and reading comprehension abilities. To this end, two groups of Iranian EFL learners were taught on the L2 through either contemplative teaching (Experimental Group) or a traditional method (Control Group). The results of the study indicated that contemplative teaching, accompanied with transformative instruction, would in fact have significant effects on Iranian EFL learners&rsquo; L2 autonomy, i.e., self-directed L2 learning, and L2 reading comprehension skills. In addition, the analysis of the qualitative indicated that the participants in the Experimental Group held positive attitudes towards contemplative and transformative L2 instruction and believed these instructional strategies would create a supporting and viable classroom atmosphere. The findings of this study would have significant implications for both theory and practice on L2 contemplative teaching, self-directed learning, and reading comprehension.

scholarly journals The Effects of Collaborative and Non- Collaborative Approaches to Teaching Reading Strategies on Iranian efl Learners’ Reading Comprehension and Attitude toward Reading

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-73
Author(s):  
Azadeh Rajaei ◽  
Seyed Hassan Talebi ◽  
Shirin Abadikhah
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Strategy Instruction ◽  
Reading Strategy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Teaching Reading ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Reading Strategy Instruction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Experimental Group

In an EFL context reading is a very important skill in language learning. This study aims at finding if instruction of reading strategies in two different collaborative and non-collaborative approaches affects reading comprehension and attitude toward reading differently. Forty-five Iranian adult female EFL learners at pre-intermediate general English proficiency level in Iran Language Institute (ili) were selected and divided into three groups of 15 students. One group functioning as the control group did not receive any strategy instruction; the second group, as the first experimental group, received reading strategy instruction in collaborative groups (Collaborative Strategic Reading or csr), and the third group considered as the second experimental group received reading strategy instruction in a non-collaborative way. A reading comprehension test and a reading attitude questionnaire were given to all three groups at the beginning of the term as pretests and after the experiment as posttests. The results obtained through one-way anova indicated that though both experimental groups outperformed the control group, there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups in reading comprehension and attitude toward reading. Therefore, it is up to teachers to weigh the advantages of using the collaborative approach to teaching reading against its disadvantages.

scholarly journals The Effect of Humor-Integrated Pictures Using Quizlet on Vocabulary Learning of EFL Learners

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Mehdi Solhi Andarab
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Acquisition ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Teacher Student ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Shed Light

The recent improvements in technology and their integration in language learning have played a facilitating role invocabulary acquisition. Quizlet, an online teacher-/student-friendly tool, is one of the leading applications invocabulary acquisition. Along with the effectiveness of visualization in acquiring vocabulary, humor has been alsoextensively indicated to carry a significant role in language learning. With all its facilitating features, the integrationof technology, humor, and vocabulary can be achieved via Quizlet. In this study, the visual integration of humoraccompanying vocabulary on Quizlet was taken into scrutiny to see to what extent humor-integrated pictures onQuizlet account for the retention of vocabulary acquisition. With this purpose, this study examined the effect ofhumor-integrated pictures on vocabulary acquisition of 45 intermediate English as a foreign language (EFL) learnerson Quizlet. In so doing, the experimental group received a series of unknown vocabulary items for which theintegrated pictures were humorous, while the vocabulary items assigned for the control group were identical, but innon-humorous contexts. At the end, an independent samples t-test applied on the scores achieved from a posttestindicated a significant difference in scores of the control group and that of the experimental group. In fact, thelearners in the experimental group significantly outperformed their counterparts in the control group. The resultsindicated that linking vocabulary items with humorous pictures is more effective than using non-humorous context inlearning vocabulary. Apparently, as the results indicate, the significant effectiveness of technology in vocabularylearning can be boosted with the help of humorous context. The findings shed light on the importance of technologyin language learning and its linking with humor in vocabulary learning.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document