Digital Reading Fluency and Text Presentation Medium Preference in EFL Context

Author(s):  
Jaleh Hasaskhah ◽  
Behzad Barekat ◽  
Nahid Farhang Asa

With the advent of digital literacy, fluency in reading from the screen has become a key category in shaping reading proficiency. Furthermore, research focusing on digital reading fluency, especially in the English as Foreign Language (EFL) context, is scarce. Therefore, this study first seeks to explore the differences in the participants’ reading fluency in paper and digital reading environments, and second to examine the participants’ attitude towards text presentation medium. To this end, the reading fluency of 30 students doing their Master’s was examined in two reading environments. Then, by using a checklist, the participants self- assessed themselves for their preference for either type of the texts. The results revealed that not only were the EFL participants more fluent in the traditional paper texts than digital ones, but also the majority had a stronger preference for the former. The findings call for greater ‘diversity adjustment’ in scholarship on digital literacy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Arini Sabrina

2013 Curriculum now has been implemented so widely in Indonesia, especially in English teaching and learning process. It delineates some focal points like student-centred active learning and contextual teaching which hopefully brings the students to learn more effectively. Furthermore, there is an apparent unanimity that the curriculum may lead the meaningfulness of learning. In relation to English teaching approach, Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) is likened to the latest curriculum. CLT emphasises on the context and authenticity. Thus, this approach should go along with 2013 Curriculum. This study aims at finding out the implementation of CLT in line with the curriculum, since many previous studies alert some problems happening while CLT is applied not in ESL as its birthplace, yet in EFL context. In fact, Indonesia perceives English as foreign language. But, there are still few studies related to this approach. After observation and document tracking are conducted, it is concluded that Scientific Approach and Communicative Language Teaching Approach are able to blend to create more effective communicative learning.


Author(s):  
Laily Maulida Septiana Harti ◽  

The ever-growing ideology of English as global language has brought significant effect to education. Moving from the want to learn the language, English literacy has become the need. Learning English thus becomes an urge, especially in English as Foreign Language (EFL) context. Teaching English needs to go over teaching the elements of the language itself, but more to encouraging learners to be able to negotiate meaning in their purposeful interaction. In EFL teaching and learning setting, various studies focusing on the pedagogy have been conducted. This study is, indeed, leading to the pedagogy of English, focusing on the resources that teachers can utilize to create a conducive environment for learning and building the students’ reservoir. In addition, the concept of space in educational setting has given a valuable contribution to carry out pedagogical approach multimodally. This paper examines the employment of multimodal classroom in an EFL university context in Indonesia to develop students’ reservoir of English. How multimodality and the use of technology provide affordances and possible constraints to the teaching and learning process is as well presented according to published researches on the same field of study.


Author(s):  
Iitha Priyastiti

Discussions of the second language (L2) pedagogy have been studied not only in the language and education fields. Experts working in the psychology field also propose theories on applied linguistics because L2 acquisitions involve external and internal processes. However, despite numerous studies on the field, it appears that an issue regarding the use of first language (L1) still creates continuous debates. Although arguments opposing the use of first L1 present compelling theories as to their rationale, they appear to overlook the context in which teaching and learning process takes place. The studies were either conducted in English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL), where teachers are native speakers who do not share the same L1 with students. Considering the uniqueness in classroom contexts, this paper is not going to argue or take sides on the conflicting views on the use of L1. Instead, it attempts to acknowledge the gap of the context in language teaching used in previous studies. Using a sociocultural theory, this article will describe the beneficial use of L1 with a focus on its use by teachers in an EFL context where teachers share the same L1 with students. Keywords: first language, English as a Foreign Language, sociocultural theory


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-139
Author(s):  
Florina Erbeli ◽  
Karmen Pižorn

This study examined the difference between less-skilled and skilled L1 Slovene English as foreign language (EFL) students in foreign language (L2) fluency and L2 orthographic skills; 93 less-skilled Grade 7 L1 Slovene students and 102 skilled Grade 7 L1 Slovene students participated in the study. The results showed that skilled readers performed better in all fluency and orthographic skills tasks, as the differences between groups were statistically significant. The correlations among all variables showed that L2 fluency and L2 orthographic skills are positively interrelated among both groups, suggesting that higher L2 fluency scores are associated with higher L2 orthography scores. This outcome implies that less-skilled readers need to be greatly exposed to L2 language and be ensured necessaryopportunities in- or outside the classroom in L2 learning.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soonhwa Seok ◽  
Boaventura DaCosta

<p>This study explored the relationships between the reading of digital versus printed text among 1,206 South Korean high school students in grades 9 through 12. The <em>Test</em><em> of </em><em>Silent Contextual Reading Fluency</em> (2<sup>nd</sup> ed.), the <em>Digital Propensity Index</em>, and the <em>Reading Observation</em> <em>Scale</em> were among the instruments used to measure reading proficiency and digital propensity. Statistical analysis was comprised of a paired sample <em>t</em> test to compare students’ reading perceptions of digital and printed text; independent sample <em>t</em> tests were used to explore reading preferences and the relationships between digital and printed text; and a multiple linear regression was used to explore digital propensity based on reading behaviors. Among the results, students were found to have higher positive perceptions of the reading of printed text; reading preference depended on the purpose for reading (e.g., learning versus entertainment); and significant mean differences were found among students’ reading scores and digital propensity regarding preferences between the reading of digital and printed text. Although much more research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn, the findings suggest several ways to achieve student literacy competency in the use of digital and printed text, while also pointing to additional factors that influence perceptions and behaviors among these two formats.</p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Maryam Sharafi Nejad ◽  
Shohreh Raftari ◽  
Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed Ismail ◽  
Lin Siew Eng

Writing connotes the declaration or expression of thoughts, feelings, plans and wishes in a composed form that demands skills and expertise as opposed to knowledge. Skillful writing calls for diligent work, perusing or reading, composing through reaching inferences from perusing materials and long period of practice. This study seeks to investigate the problems and identify the practical needs of writing skill in English as Foreign Language (EFL) context with special focus on Iranian citizens studying in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). In Iran, learning English language appears cumbersome for learners because it is handled as a foreign language. Hence, the leaners are confronted with plethora of problems in writing the language because it is not utilized in real life conversation or situation. In order to achieve its objectives, the study administered questionnaires to the respondents to elicit information on the difficulties confronting them while learning English as Foreign Language and their pragmatic needs.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-233
Author(s):  
Yunchai Chen ◽  
Hsueh-Hua Chuang ◽  
Aurora Lacaste

Many researchers have focused on online collaborative learning, cross-cultural communication, project-based learning, digital literacy, and digital storytelling but there is no pedagogical framework that incorporates these elements for English as Foreign Language (EFL) teaching. This study based on the qualitative design established a pedagogical framework from three different types of cross-cultural collaborative projects with the collected data including students’ artifacts and project structures. We have found that the pedagogical framework proposed here serves as a guide to facilitate different types of cross-cultural projects in their classrooms. The multiple cases of cross-cultural online collaborative projects in an EFL class were taught according to the theories of project-based learning and content language integrated learning alike, proved to follow this pedagogical framework. Implementation is also described to give more details on how the projects were conducted. In the end, opportunities and challenges are provided for future implementation of online collaborative EFL projects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-22
Author(s):  
Hiwa Weisi ◽  
Ali Raygan ◽  
Fatemeh Bakhtiari

Native English accents (British and American) are known as highly favored and accepted varieties compared to other existing accents in English as foreign language (EFL) context. Notwithstanding the research accomplished on EFL learners’ attitudes toward either of the accents (British or American), studies are still scant regarding the investigation of their perspectives in detail toward one of the accents specifically within the context of Iran. The aim of this study is to examine the Iranian EFL learners’ attitudes toward the two major known English accents (British and American. Additionally, the study highlights the major factors contributing to the learners’ preferences toward either of the accents (British or American). To that aim, a developed and validated questionnaire was distributed among 108 EFL learners selected from two of the major EFL contexts (universities and private institutes). The results indicated that the majority of the learners preferred American over British English accent. Besides, factor analysis revealed that American English exposure, lack of guidance, and lack of reinforcement toward British accent were among the mentioned factors accepted by learners for their preference of American. Finally, the study concludes with interpretations regarding the learners’ decision making issues in either of the two major accents, and recommendations are provided for revisiting the EFL learners’ attitudes and insights toward native English accents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-282
Author(s):  
Maria-Miruna Ciocoi-Pop

AbstractIn an ever-increasing competitive academic setting, university students are striving for proficiency in their skills of foreign languages. This paper aims to highlight the significance of reading comprehension for students of English as a second language. Reading comprehension is a cognitive process, in other words, reading a text means processing and decoding it. Reading proficiency is linked to numerous aspects, such as age, cognitive processes, abilities, knowledge of the foreign language, etc. It goes without saying that the experience of reading a text, be it literary or non-literary, is more enjoyable without the need to constantly look up unknown words. This brief study also tries to show whether there is a direct connection between finding contentment in reading and comprehending the texts itself. Since reading is a key-skill verified in all major language exams, it is crucial for the ESL class, and not only, to include reading comprehension processes. Like any other skill, reading comprehension can be trained, as long as it is perceived as a procedure which requires the student’s commitment. Reading comprehension is a mechanism of phrase and concept identification, as well as of decoding meanings. Thus, this paper tries to emphasize the implications of reading comprehension and of teaching reading comprehension methods in the overall linguistic knowledge of ESL learners.


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