scholarly journals Enhancing Comprehension by Effectively Using Reading Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Preeti Jaiswal

The paper examined the reading strategies used by ESL learners at University of Bahrain to comprehend academic material. It investigated the interdependence between the use of reading strategies by ESL learners’ and their reading comprehension attainment. To accomplish this goal, three instruments were used: a survey of the Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI) by Mokhtari and Sheorey (2002) and a Pre-reading comprehension test and Post-reading comprehension test and a paired sample t-test. The paper used quantitative data collected from 100 students studying in the Foundation Program at the English Language Centre and Department of Applied Studies at University of Bahrain. The findings of this research showed a notably positive relationship between the use of cognitive and metacognitive reading strategies by the students and their reading comprehension achievement. The compilation of the quantitative data, displayed that students practiced Global Reading Strategies appreciably, followed subsequently by Support Reading Strategies and Problem Solving Reading Strategies.

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Aziza M. Ali ◽  
Abu Bakar Razali

Being able to read well is important for English language learners. Through the process of reading, the learner becomes an active participant in producing an interaction with the writer of the text through predicting, analyzing, summarizing and using other types of reading strategies. However, building such a connection between the reader and the written information of the text is complex and for English as a second language (ESL) and English as a foreign language (EFL) students, it can be quite difficult for them to apply different types of reading strategies. This article provides a review of literature on 27 studies on the teaching of reading strategies (particularly cognitive and metacognitive reading strategies) for ESL/EFL learners, which reveals that ESL/EFL teachers need to keep updating their teaching methods to meet the ESL/EFL students’ needs, particularly in the use of correct reading strategies. The authors also highlight some of the main issues that prevent ESL/EFL students from improving and developing their reading comprehension. Furthermore, the authors discuss and conclude the article by suggesting to ESL/EFL teachers some teaching strategies to be applied in the reading lesson to improve the ESL/EFL students’ use of reading strategies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
Tasnima Aktar ◽  
Ilias Ahmed

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.


Author(s):  
Noor Zainab Abdul Razak ◽  
Nur Ashikinbinti Abdul Gani ◽  
Nur Hazirah Che Ithnin

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the metacognitive reading strategies employed by the ESL learners in a secondary school in Malaysia and their English proficiency. The objective of this study is to identify the types of metacognitive strategies employed by students while reading academic text. In addition, this study also aims to investigate the differences (if any) in metacognitive strategies employed by the high and low English proficiency students while reading academic text. The respondents of this research are forty students with high and low English proficiency and were selected randomly. This study is using the quantitative research method where questionnaire is used to obtain the data. Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI) was used as the measuring tools to identify the metacognitive reading strategies employed by the students. The result of this study shows that the students employed the three metacognitive strategies which are Global Reading Strategies (GLOB), Supporting Reading Strategies (SUP) and Problem-Solving Reading Strategies (PROB). In addition, the mostly employed metacognitive reading strategy was Global Reading Strategies (GLOB), followed by Supporting Reading Strategies (SUP) and Problem-Solving Reading Strategies (PROB). As a conclusion, metacognitive reading strategies can be implemented by secondary school English language teachers in their teaching as it beneficial in helping learners’ comprehension.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (43) ◽  
pp. 189-204
Author(s):  
Pick Dew Ting ◽  
Suyansah Swanto ◽  
Wardatul Akmam Din ◽  
Kamsilawati Kamlum

Despite great appreciation on the important roles played by metacognitive reading strategies in the attainment of comprehension, heightened prevalence of reading difficulties is depicted among Malaysian learners. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the current status of self-perceived use of metacognitive reading strategies among the ESL learners in six secondary schools in one of the districts in Sabah. Utilizing an adapted version of Revised Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategy Inventory (MARSI-R), data was obtained from 274 ESL learners in the same district. Descriptive analysis was used to determine the mean scores of three sub reading strategies, namely global reading strategies, problem-solving strategies and support strategies. The findings revealed that despite being aware of the use of metacognitive reading strategies, little emphasis was given on optimizing the use of global reading and support strategies, resulting in only medium usage of these two strategies. Therefore, it may be concluded that the findings implied the need to develop a reading comprehension module that incorporates the use of metacognitive reading strategies within reading comprehension instruction to facilitate Malaysian ESL learners to improve their reading comprehension.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Nadiah Halim ◽  
Marina Mohd Arif ◽  
Kaarthiyainy Supramaniam

Many students in Malaysia lack proficiency in the English language, from difficulty understanding the meaning of the text to inferring the text. The use of explicit instruction to introduce reading comprehension skills are also rarely employed in the classroom. This study investigated how metacognitive reading strategies and peer tutoring improved Year 7 students’ reading comprehension at a home-school centre. A total of 20 Year 7 students took part in this research, whereby 10 students were placed in the controlled group and 10 students in the experimental group. Students in the experimental group were exposed to 12 weeks of training on metacognitive reading strategies and peer tutoring session. In addition, IGCSE reading comprehension, learning journals and a semi-structured interview were employed to collect data from the experimental group. A paired sample t-test was conducted to analyse the quantitative data of this study whereas document analysis and thematic analysis were used to analyse the qualitative data. The results obtained from this study indicated that metacognitive reading strategies have assisted students to use suitable techniques to comprehend the reading text and answer the reading comprehension questions. In addition, peer tutoring aids student by having their peers translate meaning of the texts in their native language, explain how to properly use the metacognitive reading skills as well as provide guidance and support in the classroom. Therefore, the findings of this study are significant as it suggests the difficulty of students to adapt to new strategies in a short time; hence, they should be exposed at primary level. Keywords: Metacognitive reading strategies, peer tutoring, reading comprehension, home- school centres.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Waleed Shehzad ◽  
Ishtiaq Hussain ◽  
Amer Akhtar ◽  
Saadia Fatima

Abstract The intended aim of this research was to identify the connection of Self-Efficacy Sources (SES) and Metacognitive Reading Strategies (MCRS) with Reading Comprehension (RC) by deploying reading Self-Efficacy Beliefs (SEB) as a mediating construct. A correlational design was utilized. Proportionate stratified random sampling was deployed to select a sample of 383 Saudi EFL university learners. Questionnaires and a reading comprehension test were employed to gather the data. Structural equation modelling was used to test the relationships. Results indicated that SES were substantially associated with SEB except physiological state. Moreover, all the three MCRS showed significant and positive association with SEB. Also, SEB were substantially associated with RC. Regarding mediation, it was discovered that SEB mediated the relationship among SES and RC except one source, i.e., physiological state. Moreover, SEB mediated the association between all the three MCRS and RC. This study provides several implications for learners, teachers, and policymakers. Keywords: Metacognitive Reading Strategies, Self-efficacy Sources, Reading Self-efficacy Beliefs, Reading Comprehension, Saudi EFL Learners


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-107
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh ◽  
Nguyen Thuy Nga

This paper aimed at investigating the frequencies of reading strategies employed by Vietnamese non-English major students while taking a reading comprehension test at Kien Giang University. Data was collected through a questionnaire delivered to 117 sophomores who majored in Economics, Accounting and Construction at Kien Giang University. The results from the descriptive statistics showed that Vietnamese non-English majors were medium strategy users. Of the three types of reading strategies, cognitive strategies were the most frequently used, followed by metacognitive and support reading strategies. Out of 27 reading strategies, students reportedly used item number 14 “I read the text again for better understanding.” at the highest frequency while rating item number 2 “I determined what the type of the text is.” the least frequency.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 1064-1086
Author(s):  
Salim Abu Rabia

Purpose and research question: The present study investigated whether there was any significant difference between balanced bilinguals, dominant bilinguals, limited bilinguals and monolinguals in the application of metacognitive linguistic skills while doing a reading comprehension task in the additional (English) language. Namely, how do different degrees of bilingualism affect metacognitive linguistic skills? Methodology: The present study examined three domains of metacognitive reading process (planning, monitoring and evaluating), as well as the overall use of metacognitive reading strategies. Four groups of participants (30 seventh grade students in each group) completed a Metacognitive Reading Strategies Questionnaire, aimed at measuring their metacognitive awareness in each domain after fulfilling a reading comprehension task in English. Data analysis: A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used in order to test the differences within groups and between groups. Findings and conclusions: Level of metacognitive reading awareness was affected by the degree of bilingualism. There was a positive influence of balanced (reading and writing skills in the second language) and imbalanced (oral skills in the second language) degrees of bilingualism on metacognitive linguistic abilities. A balanced degree of bilingualism exerted the greatest influence on most of the metacognitive reading domains (planning, monitoring and the total use of metacognitive strategies). Significance: A significant advantage of balanced bilinguals over all other groups was revealed. Level of metacognitive reading awareness was affected by the degree of bilingualism. Thus, bilingual education should be taken seriously due to its positive effect on all aspects of thinking and learning. Results provided additional support to the notion that bilingualism had a positive impact on the metacognitive linguistic skills. Moreover, the balance between the languages appeared to be a significant variable. Thus, balanced bilinguals, who possessed the highest competence in the second language, showed the best performance in the domains of planning, monitoring and overall use of metacognitive reading strategies. Limited bilinguals, on the contrary, demonstrated the lowest scores in the mentioned domains. The findings also revealed the absence of any considerable difference between the groups in the domain of evaluating.


2016 ◽  
pp. 1055-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debopriyo Roy

This research explored how website analysis and design pedagogy could help support analytical thinking and English language production in an EFL context. In this study, 28 EFL-based computer science students took part in a website analysis experiment. The study investigated if students could analyze English websites and comprehend and produce responses in English for eight open-ended questions, divided into two sets of design and inference-based queries. Additionally, students answered a questionnaire on their own awareness about the use of metacognitive reading strategies, during website analysis and questionnaire responses. Results have demonstrated reasonable ability for students to answer most design and inference set queries. Questions on design, organization, audience analysis, and importance of the website were answered with better efficiency, when compared to few others. However, accuracy scores in neither set showed any significant practice effect, and rather performance dropped over the weeks. Further, self-reports indicated use of metacognitive reading strategies and significant correlations with accuracy scores during website analysis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
AbdulRahman Al Asmari ◽  
Choudhary Zahid Javid

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.


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