Exploring The EFI Learners' Attitudes Towards the Integration of Active Reading Software in Learning Reading Comprehension at Tertiary Level

2021 ◽  
pp. 248-266
Author(s):  
Imran Khan ◽  
Ainol Haryati Ibrahim ◽  
Asiah Kassim ◽  
Raja Muhammad Ishtiaq Khan
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Academic Goals ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Language Pedagogy ◽  
Active Reading ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Reading Software

The role of technology in language pedagogy and learning is significant both in EFL and ESL contexts. Educational technology facilitates language teachers to enhance their teaching practices by implementing certain strategies to assist learners to achieve their academic goals successfully. However, the adoption and effective use of technology in EFL classes depends on the positive attitudes of the learners. An attempt was made to explore EFL learners' attitude towards technology-enhanced instructions of reading comprehension at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of 60 male EFL learners, divided into two groups. The research tools used for collecting the data were quantitative approach and an attitude scale questionnaire to explore the learners' attitude towards Active Reading Software (ARS) instruction. The experimental group received four-week treatment in the computer labs using ARS. The analysis of data showed positive attitudes of EFL learners toward Active Reading Software as a learning tool in improving reading comprehension achievement.

scholarly journals English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners’ Perceptions on the Effectiveness of the Internet to Enhance their Learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Ziad Abdulrahman Al-Muwallad
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
English Language ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
The Internet ◽  
King Saud University ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Preparatory Year

This study attempted to investigate the vital role of the internet in enhancing the learning of reading. In addition, the study aimed to measure the students’ attitudes towards the internet and to identify to what extent the internet was employed in their reading classes. Moreover, the study aimed to explore the challenges that they encountered while using the internet in their learning of reading. In order to achieve these goals, the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach and used the questionnaire as the main data collection tool. The study sample comprised 50 Saudi EFL male students in the preparatory year at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. The findings of the study showed that students perceived that the internet is important in the process of reading comprehension learning and teaching with positive attitudes towards the internet. Results showed that the top challenges of using of the internet for reading learning/teaching are lack of students’ knowledge to know what to read on the internet, the short time of the class, and the students’ lack of the skills and knowledge to use the internet for academic purposes. Furthermore, the results showed that the students mostly used the internet for playing games, social networking, and learning vocabulary. It is recommended that English language teachers should be encouraged to use the internet in their language classes as it is valuable for their students to enhance their reading comprehension skills.

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’ 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’ 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 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 Mother Tongue as an Asset in Developing l2 Reading Comprehension Skill Among Iranian EFL Learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Farzaneh Iranmanesh ◽  
Mohammad Golshan
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Control Group ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Comprehension Skill ◽  
Motivation And Confidence ◽  
L2 Reading Comprehension

This study attempted to explore the effect of teachers switching to l1 on developing l2 reading comprehension among learners and to justify the assumption that their switching to l1 can be purposeful, following pedagogical goals. To this respect two groups of students majoring at English teaching were selected from intact classes ,one as the control group, the other as the experimental receiving l2-only and l2 plus l1switching instruction respectively for their reading comprehension course with the same teacher under equal condition (highly attempted).The result showed that non/low proficient l2 readers who rely more on translation in the process of comprehending English texts made more advantage of the teacher’s implementing strategy and developed more than other participants. That is; apart from various reading strategies utilized by EFl learners, teachers’ code switching as a compensation strategy to clarify the complex unknown (assumed for the learners) syntactic/semantic structures plays a prominent role in facilitating the struggling task of comprehension among learners. It also justified the premise that insisting on l2-only instruction in reading comprehension is not facilitating but frustrating and time consuming. However, systematic switching to l1 can be developmental and timesaving through making positive effect on comprehension, motivation and confidence. Hence this study can provide language teachers with pedagogical implications for non-proficient l2 readers particularly at the early years of learning process.

scholarly journals Teachers' and students' attitudes towards reading and writing: Do they correlate to students' achievement in English?

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-156
Author(s):  
Titus Terver Udu
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Senior Secondary ◽  
Attitudes Towards Reading

This survey tested the null hypothesis that teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards reading and writing do not simultaneously predict students’ achievement in the English language. The researcher utilized a sample of 38 teachers and 492 senior secondary school students from 12 schools in Benue State, Nigeria, for the study. The researcher developed and utilized the English Language Students’ Attitude Scale (ELSAS), English Language Teachers’ Attitude Scale (ELTAS), and Reading and Writing Achievement Test (RWAT) for data collection. An estimate of internal consistency was obtained through Cronbach’s Alpha and Kuder Richardson’s reliability methods and found to be 0.76 for ELSAS, 0.68 for ELTAS, and 0.81 for RWAT. Data analysis was by multiple regression statistics. The findings revealed that both English language teachers and students have a positive attitude towards reading and writing (F3, 492 = 0.160, p0.05) implying that teachers and students’ attitudes towards reading and writing jointly predicted students’ achievement in the English language in senior secondary schools. To conclude, learning would be facilitated if both teachers and students hold positive attitudes towards reading and writing, and this, in turn, could impact the students’ achievement in the English language. It was recommended that teachers should plan reading and writing instruction that can help students develop positive attitudes to these skills and parents should help in the development of these skills at home.

scholarly journals THE EFFECTS OF SUMMARIZING USING INFOGRAPHICS ON EFL LEARNERS’ READING COMPREHENSION.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Dyah Supraba Lastari ◽  
Rini Silvana
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Pedagogical Intervention ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
English Reading ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Assigned Reading ◽  
Technological Tools ◽  
Reading Activities ◽  
Comprehension Tests

The purpose of this paper is to describe EFL learners’ experiences while using infographics  in a reading class. The pedagogical intervention, based on the use of infographic application (Canva) as an alternative tool to help them summarize reading passages, was implemented to enhance their reading comprehension. The data were gathered from teacher’s journal, questionnaires and the results of students’ reading comprehension tests. The findings revealed that the students viewed the use of infographics could motivate and enabled them to summarize the assigned reading topics much easier. In addition, the assignments incorporating the use of infographic application encouraged them to participate actively in English reading activities in a collaborative atmosphere, allow them to develop their creativity and raise positive attitudes toward the role of technological tools in educational settings.Keywords: English reading, infographics, reading comprehension

scholarly journals The Effect of Reflective Reading on Reading Comprehension of Iranian EFL Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
Nava Nourdad ◽  
Rasoul Asghari
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Survival Skill ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

Reading comprehension as a survival skill in EFL context is included in almost all language proficiency and achievement tests. However, it seems that traditional approaches to reading comprehension instruction have not been successful at satisfying the learners’ need. Considering the advantages of reflective reading, it appeared as a probable solution to reading problem of EFL learners. Therefore, this experimental study aimed at investigating the effect of reflective reading on reading comprehension of Iranian EFL learners. To this end 49 male and female participants were selected through convenient sampling and were randomly assigned to two control and experimental groups. An English proficiency test was given to the sample to make sure about the homogeneity of the participants and equality of proficiency levels of the two groups. Later reading comprehension ability of the study groups was measured. As the ten-session treatment began the experimental group experienced reflective reading, while the control group followed conventional method of reading and answering comprehension check questions. After the treatment period, the groups’ reading comprehension ability was assessed once more. Independent samples t-tests were run to analyze the gathered data. It was found that reflective reading has positive effect on reading comprehension of Iranian EFL learners. Pedagogical implications of this finding for language teachers, learners, material developers, policy makers and researchers are discussed. 

scholarly journals THE INFLUENCE OF ATTRIBUTIONAL BELIEFS ON INDONESIAN EFL LEARNERS’ READING COMPREHENSION

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-320
Author(s):  
Nancy Agatha Florida ◽  
Concilianus Laos Mbato
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Learned Helplessness ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Reading Text ◽  
Successes And Failures

This research investigated how Indonesian EFL learners attributed their successes and failures in reading comprehension and whether or not there was any correlation between attributional beliefs and EFL learners’ monitoring strategies in reading. The researchers distributed Attributional Beliefs Questionnaire (ABQ) and Reading Monitoring Strategies Questionnaire (RMSQ) to undergraduate students in the third semester (n=36) of a private university in Kupang, the capital city of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province. The data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation scale. Six students were selected to be interviewed to obtain qualitative data. Based on the results, 56% of students attributed their successes and failures in reading to the internal factors (efforts and strategies) rather than the external ones (reading text and learning environment). There was a moderate and insignificant correlation between attributional beliefs and reading monitoring strategies with r=0.51. It indicated that students need to regulate themselves and navigate their learning based on their attributional beliefs or they would experience learned helplessness. This research offered two implications for the teaching of reading among Indonesian EFL learners. In order to gain a greater opportunity to experience more reading success, language teachers were recommended to introduce attribution concepts and implement all reading strategies to their students.

scholarly journals Investigating Metacognitive Think-Aloud Strategy in Improving Saudi EFL Learners' Reading Comprehension and Attitudes

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz Ali Al-Qahtani
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Think Aloud ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Comprehension Skills ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Reading Comprehension Skills ◽  
Experimental Group

The current study's objective examines the effectiveness of using a Think-Aloud strategy in improving Saudi EFL learners' reading comprehension and attitudes towards learning. A quantitative study with a quasi-experimental design was implemented through applying two different instruments: Reading Comprehension Skills Test and Attitude Scale towards learning EFL. The study adopts a pre-post control group design where forty students were randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental group. Students of the experimental group were instructed by using metacognitive Think-Aloud strategy, whereas, the control group received traditional treatment such as skimming and scanning techniques. The findings of the study showed that the attitudes and reading comprehension skills of the experimental group improved significantly as opposed to the control group. The study gives more insight into the importance of applying a Think-Aloud strategy in teaching reading comprehension inside EFL educational context. The study also suggests recommendations for EFL teachers to increase the efficiency of applying this strategy through their teaching procedures.

scholarly journals An Investigation on EFL Teachers’ Attitude toward Teaching Profession

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reyhan Agcam ◽  
Muzaffer Pinar Babanoglu
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Teaching Profession ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Professional Performance ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teachers Attitudes ◽  
Education In Turkey

<p>Teaching is described as a demanding job that requires in-depth knowledge of subject content, age-specific pedagogy, and many varied skills such as patience, leadership, and creativity. Teaching a foreign language constitutes another challenge for the teachers who are already attached the primary liability in raising generations for contributing to the development of their country. Considering that foreign language teachers’ attitudes toward their job largely influence their professional performance, this study aims to scrutinize whether attitude of EFL teachers toward teaching profession significantly differ across level of educational institutions where they are working. Accordingly, an attitude scale was administered to EFL teachers working at state primary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education in Turkey. The results indicated that the majority of the participants have positive attitudes toward their job despite problems they encounter while performing it. The study reported and discussed research findings in comprehensively, and offered a few pedagogical implications, and suggestions for further directions.</p>

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