scholarly journals Predictors of Successful Reading Comprehension in Bilingual Adults: The Role of Reading Strategies and Language Proficiency

Languages ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Deanna C. Friesen ◽  
Bailey Frid
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Text Analysis ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Background Knowledge ◽  
Strategy Use ◽  
Dominant Language ◽  
Analysis Strategies

The current study investigated the type of strategies that English–French bilingual adults utilize when reading in their dominant and non-dominant languages and which of these strategies are associated with reading comprehension success. Thirty-nine participants read short texts while reporting aloud what they were thinking as they read. Following each passage, readers answered three comprehension questions. Questions either required information found directly in the text (literal question) or required a necessary inference or an elaborative inference. Readers reported more necessary and elaborative inferences and referred to more background knowledge in their dominant language than in their non-dominant language. Engaging in both text analysis strategies and meaning extraction strategies predicted reading comprehension success in both languages, with differences observed depending on the type of question posed. Results are discussed with respect to how strategy use supports the development of text representations.

scholarly journals Role of Content Schema in Reading Comprehension Among Saudi EFL Students: EFL Teachers’ Perspective and Use of Appropriate Classroom Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
AbdulRahman Al Asmari ◽  
Choudhary Zahid Javid
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Background Knowledge ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Classroom Strategies ◽  
English Language Teachers

This empirical survey investigates the perceptions of English language teachers towards the role of content schemata in reading comprehension among Saudi EFL learners. Furthermore, it also attempts to explore the use of appropriate classroom strategies employed by English language teachers to activate content schemata to enhance learners’ reading comprehension. A modified Likert-scale strongly-agree to strongly-disagree questionnaire was administered to 61 male and female EFL faculty from English Language Center (ELC), Taif University to generate data. The findings have reinforced that background knowledge of Saudi EFL learners help them significantly in reading faster with better understanding. It has also been reported that pre-reading strategies of brainstorming, classroom discussions about the topic and questioning are the most favored ones to activate Saudi EFL learners’ background knowledge. It has also been learnt that while-reading strategies of directing the students’ attention to signal words, main idea, important phrases, titles, subtitles and effectively linking the target text to their students’ cultural and social experiences also contribute towards reading comprehension. The findings have also revealed that English language teachers consider low English language proficiency and poor reading skills of Saudi ELF leaners as well as the lack of appropriate teaching aids as the major obstacles in activating the content schemata. Several recommendations have been forwarded which have significant pedagogical implications in materializing much sought-after goal of effective ELT in the KSA by ensuring better reading skills among Saudi EFL learners.

scholarly journals Contributions of the cognitive, affective and linguistic domains to strategy use and degree of strategy use to effective reading performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-34
Author(s):  
Seyed Hassan Talebi ◽  
Behnaz Seifallahpur
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Reading Strategy ◽  
Reading Performance ◽  
Strategy Use ◽  
Cognitive Domain ◽  
Test Analysis

According to Oxford (1990), different learner variables affect the choice of learning strategy. It was also found that effective L2 readers know how to use strategies to foster reading comprehension and ineffective readers have little awareness of strategies to read effectively (Yang, 2002). This study investigates the contribution of three relatively important variables and their components (namely, the cognitive domain or awareness and use of strategies, the linguistic domain or general English proficiency level, and the affective domain or attitude toward reading in L2), to reading strategy use in English. The second purpose of the study is to find out the effect of reading strategy use on reading comprehension. For these purposes, 100 undergraduate Iranian EFL students participated in this study. They were given Language Proficiency Test, Test of reading comprehension in English, Reading Strategy Awareness and Use Questionnaire, and finallvy a questionnaire on attitude toward Reading. The obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistic (means, standard deviations), Pearson correlation procedure, regression analysis, ANOVA, and Scheffe post-hoc multiple range test. Analysis of data showed the three aforementioned variables, namely awareness and use of reading strategies, linguistic proficiency, and attitude toward reading had significant contributions to strategy use. However, strategy awareness showed to have the most contribution to strategy use. In addition, among the subgroups of strategy awareness, the metacognitive component showed to contribute more to strategy use. In this study it was also found students with higher strategy use gain better scores on the reading test. It is concluded that as degree of strategy use affects reading performance, in order to improve effective use of reading strategies teachers and learners should pay more attention to the development of awareness of reading strategies, especially the metacognitive component in order to have a good use of reading strategies for efficient reading.

“Google and me together can read anything.” Online reading strategies to develop hypertext comprehension in ESL readers

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 896-914
Author(s):  
Kshema Jose
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Online Reading ◽  
Esl Teachers ◽  
Topic Familiarity ◽  
Online Reading Comprehension ◽  
Online Texts

If we are to build in our students, literacy skills relevant for the 21st century, reading classrooms need to take into account the changing nature of texts that our students are required to read in real-world contexts (Alexander & The Disciplined Reading and Learning Research Laboratory, 2012). This paper exhorts ESL teachers to use online texts or hypertexts, in addition to print textbooks, in the reading classroom. The use of hypertexts can increase the literacy participation of students by making reading authentic, and ensuring literacy skills they acquire more meaningful and productive (Coiro, Killi, & Castek, 2017). In the reading classroom where this research was located, it was observed that readers who scored low on reading comprehension tests based on print texts demonstrated higher levels of comprehension while performing on tests based on hypertexts. The study was conducted to identify the reading strategies used by these readers. It was found that ESL readers were able to overcome deficits in their prior knowledge (topic familiarity) and/or language proficiency by using specific reading and navigating strategies. This paper proposes that strategy training in the use of newer reading and navigating strategies might help develop online reading comprehension expertise and build independent reading habits in ESL readers.

scholarly journals DIFFICULTIES IN READING COMPREHENSION OF ENGLISH MAJORED SOPHOMORES AT TAY DO UNIVERSITY, CANTHO, VIETNAM / KHÓ KHĂN KHI HỌC MÔN ĐỌC HIỂU CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ HAI CHUYÊN NGÀNH NGÔN NGỮ ANH TẠI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC TÂY ĐÔ, THÀNH PHỐ CẦN THƠ, VIỆT NAM

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nga H. T. Nguyen ◽  
Tu K. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Background Knowledge ◽  
Viet Nam ◽  
Attitude And Motivation

No one denied the important role of reading comprehension in learning reading because reading becomes meaningless without comprehending the texts. So, the research “Difficulties in reading comprehension of English majored sophomores at Tay Do University, Cantho, Vietnam” was conducted to help sophomores recognize their problems in reading. The participants of the study comprise 90 English majored sophomores from Bachelor of English 10 (2015-2019) at Tay Do University. All of them still have some difficulties in linguistic causes as vocabulary, grammar structures, background knowledge and in some strategies, such as guessing meaning from the context, skimming, scanning and also in psychological causes as attitude and motivation. The research was divided into 2 stages. The former was delivering questionnaire to participants. Then, students were chosen to do interview paper. The paper also finds out some obstacles to help students to get over their difficulties. Không ai phủ nhận vai trò quan trọng của đọc hiểu đối với học môn đọc hiểu vì việc đọc sẽ trở nên vô nghĩa nếu không hiểu nội dung. Vì vậy, nghiên cứu “Khó khăn khi học môn đọc hiểu của sinh viên năm thứ hai chuyên ngành Ngôn Ngữ Anh tại Trường Đại học Tây Đô, Thành phố Cần Thơ, Việt Nam” được thực hiện nhằm giúp sinh viên năm hai nhận ra vấn đề của họ khi học môn đọc hiểu. Đối tượng nghiên cứu bao gồm 90 sinh viên năm thứ hai Cử nhân tiếng Anh khóa 10 (năm học 2015-2019) tại Trường Đại học Tây Đô. Tất cả sinh viên gặp một số khó khăn về ngôn ngữ như từ vựng, cấu trúc ngữ pháp, kiến thức cơ bản và một số chiến lược đọc hiểu như đoán nghĩa từ theo ngữ cảnh, đọc lướt, đọc lấy ý chi tiết và cả nguyên nhân tâm lý như thái độ và động lực học tập. Nghiên cứu được chia thành 2 giai đoạn. Đầu tiên là gửi bảng câu hỏi cho những người tham gia. Sau đó, chọn người tham gia trả lời phỏng vấn trên giấy. Bài nghiên cứu cũng tìm ra một số trở ngại để giúp sinh viên vượt qua khó khăn khi học môn đọc hiểu. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0779/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Strategies in dealing with the Reading Section of ‘TOEFL Prediction’: a case of Aceh EFL Learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-171
Author(s):  
Fera Busfina Zalha ◽  
Alfiatunnur Alfiatunnur ◽  
Cut Annisa Triana Kamil
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Background Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Reading Strategy ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Test Taking ◽  
Prediction Test ◽  
Test Taking Strategy ◽  
Banda Aceh

ABSTRACTHighlighting the TOEFL prediction test, this study attempted to explore EFL learners’ strategies in dealing with the reading comprehension section of the TOEFL prediction test, both in reading the texts and tackling the questions. This study employed a qualitative research design as its approach and a semi-structured interview as the instrument to gain the data. Six participants were purposively selected from the English Language Education Department of UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh. They were interviewed concerning their reading strategies in dealing with the questions in the TOEFL Prediction test. The findings revealed five strategies used by the participants in contending with the TOEFL reading section, classified into reading strategy and test-taking strategy. The reading strategies consist of skimming and scanning the passages, using context to understand the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary, and utilizing background knowledge. Meanwhile, reviewing the questions and prioritizing easier questions are included in the test-taking strategy.  This study proposes further research to investigate the effectiveness of particular strategies in improving EFL students’ performance in facing the reading section.ABSTRAKMengangkat topik tes TOEFL Prediksi, penelitian ini mencoba menyelidiki strategi yang dilakukan oleh mahasiswa-mahasiswi Bahasa Inggris dalam menghadapi bagian Reading Comprehension di tes TOEFL, baik strategi ketika membaca teks maupun ketika menjawab soal-soal yang tersedia. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan qualitatif dan menggunakan wawancara semi-terstruktur sebagai instrument untuk menghasilkan data. Teknik purposive sampling digunakan dalam memilih enam partisipan untuk studi ini yang keenamnya berasal dari Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ada lima strategi yang digunakan oleh partisipan dalam menyelesaikan TOEFL Reading Section. Kelima strategi tersebut dapat diklasifikasikan kepada reading strategy (strategi membaca) dan test-taking strategy (strategi dalam menghadapi tes). Reading strategies terdiri dari membaca teks dengan menggunakan teknik skimming and scanning, menggunakan konteks untuk dapat memahami makna dari kata-kata yang sukar, dan menggunakan background knowledge (pengetahuan sebelumnya) ketika membaca teks. Sementara mereview pertanyaan dan mengutamakan menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang lebih mudah termasuk dalam test-taking strategy yang dilakukan oleh partisipan ketika menghadapi tes. Studi ini mendukung penelitian lebih dalam kedepannya terkait keefektifan dari strategi-strategi ini dalam meningkatkan performa mahasiswa-mahasiswi Bahasa Inggris dalam menyelesaikan bagian reading comprehension.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Learning Style Preferences and Reading Strategy Use in English as a Foreign Language

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 93-103
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Danuta Lesiak-Bielawska
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Learning Style ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Reading Strategy ◽  
Strategy Use ◽  
Learning Style Preferences ◽  
Task Requirements ◽  
Style Preferences ◽  
The Relationship

The study explored the relationship between learning style preferences and the use of reading strategies triggered during the performance of a reading comprehension assignment in English as a foreign language (EFL). The research conducted drew on the hypothesis that the type of language task activates a battery of strategies that reflect the subject's learning style preferences and the task requirements.

scholarly journals Metacognitive awareness of strategy use in EFL reading comprehension in Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
Tasnima Aktar ◽  
Ilias Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
Strategy Use ◽  
Metacognitive Awareness ◽  
Partial Replication ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Effective Strategies

It is argued that learners’ metacognitive awareness of strategy use is significantly associated with their achievement in reading comprehension. In order to ascertain this association, the present researcher carries out the investigation to substantiate the existing findings. This current study is a partial replication of Carrell (1989) and Vogely (1995) with regard to their methods and objectives. The objectives of this research are to explore the higher secondary-level EFL learners’ perceptions of themselves as readers, of their use of comprehension and repair strategies, of difficulties as well as the effectiveness of reading strategies, and its relationship with their reading comprehension, if any. For this investigation, quantitative data collected from 148 higher secondary-level EFL learners via a modified Metacognitive Awareness Strategy Questionnaire (MASQ; Carrell, 1989) and a reading comprehension test were analyzed through statistical tools available in SPSS. The results reveal that learners possess a moderate awareness of reading strategies, and their perceptions of effective strategies and of the difficulty of strategy use are significantly and positively related to their reading comprehension. Based on the findings, pedagogical implications are discussed and scope for future studies is recommended.

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