scholarly journals Impact of Timed Reading on Comprehension and Speed: A Study on Turkish EFL Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 204
Author(s):  
Kiymet Selin Armagan ◽  
Zubeyde Sinem Genc
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Reading Speed ◽  
Reading Process ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Good And Poor Readers ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
The Impact

Reading process has always been one of the most significant and debatable topics in the area of learning and teaching languages. Reading process in mother tongue (L1) and in a foreign language (L2), the association of these processes, variables affecting reading and the qualities of good and poor readers in L1 and L2 have been investigated greatly. Developments in the area of reading in L1 have frequently raised questions about reading in L2 and a variety of theories have been proposed to account for the relationship between L1 and L2 reading. One of the most fundamental questions raised is related to “reading fluency”. Even though the importance of reading fluency in both L1 and L2 has been emphasized, studies on fluency in L2 are still scarce if we think about its more complicated and multifaceted nature when compared to reading fluency in L1. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of timed reading practices on the comprehension level and reading speed of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Turkish context. A total of 74 students were the participants, who were randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control group. Experimental group received timed reading activities while the control group did not. Pre-test was applied on the 1st week and post-test was applied on the 7th week. Results illustrated that timed reading intervention positively affected EFL students’ comprehension level and reading speed. Implications for teaching reading in a foreign language were discussed in relation to a number of important details in the findings.

scholarly journals Reading in English as a Foreign language: Examining differences in reading speed, comprehension, efficacy and L1 cross-linguistic influence across grades

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Àngels Llanes Baró
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Reading Speed ◽  
First Language ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
English Reading ◽  
Fluency And Comprehension ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
L1 And L2

Reading in a second or foreign language (L2) is a more complicated process than reading in one's first language because it requires additional demands on the reader. Reading can be assessed from various domains. Reading fluency is known to be the most determining domain to identify reading problems (Rasinski, 2000). However, the goal of reading is comprehending a text, so comprehension should not be disregarded either. Despite the importance of reading in an L2, few studies have focused on examining its effects. The goal of the present study is threefold: first, to provide the estimates of L2 English reading rates of L1 Catalan/Spanish students of different ages and grades; second, to examine whether there are significant differences between participants of different grades in terms of reading rates, comprehension and efficacy; and third, to explore whether the students' reading rates in the L1 are correlated with their L2 reading rates and if so, the extent to which L1 reading rates explain L2 reading rates. 790 Catalan/Spanish learners of English participated in the present study. Participants were from 5th grade primary (age 12) to 2nd baccalaureate (age 18). They were asked to read two texts, one in English and the other one in their L1 (they could choose between Catalan or Spanish). They were asked to answer 7 multiple-choice comprehension questions after reading each text. Next, their scores on fluency (words read per minute), comprehension (percentage of comprehended text) and efficacy (a formula that integrates speed and comprehension) were obtained. Results show that reading fluency and comprehension are not linear and that they do not necessarily improve over time. Results also show that L1 and L2 reading fluency rates are highly correlated and that L1 reading rates explain a large percentage of L2 reading rates.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF VISUAL STIMULI ON THE CONTENT OF WRITING IN TAMIL LANGUAGE: A STUDY AMONG USM UNDERGRADUATES

2022 ◽  
pp. 36-45
Author(s):  
RONI KAE MERY PRANCHIS ◽  
AJUNTHA KUPPAN
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Visual Stimuli ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Teaching Resources ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Graphics Software ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Visual images are increasingly appearing in learning and teaching resources, delivered across a range of media in a variety of formats: digitally Web-based material and multimedia as well as print and as transparencies. The proliferation of image-rich resources is due to the wide availability of digital images and access to the technology and graphics software that facilitates the creation and delivery of visual materials. The main aim of this research is to investigate the role of visual stimuli in enhancing writing skills among USM undergraduates who are taking Tamil as foreign language. Writing is an important skill often emphasized among foreign language learners. However, most foreign language learners face difficulties to pen down their thoughts. The respondents of this research are pursuing LAT 300 (Tamil Language III) course at the School of Languages, Literacies and Translation and are divide into two groups, experimental and control group. The methods used is written assignment; topic with visual stimuli for experimental group and topic without stimuli for control group. The written assignments were graded using the university’s grading rubric. In the questionnaire, the respondents were also asked to give feedback on the use of visual stimuli in writing. The findings of this study revealed that the experimental group performed better as they were given visuals. The experimental group respondents highlighted that they needed stimuli to motivate and trigger their background knowledge on the essay topics. It is hoped that this study will aid language teachers and practitioners to utilize visuals as a support in the teaching of Tamil Language as foreign language.

scholarly journals The Impact of Glossed Texts on Reading Comprehension among Tertiary Saudi Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Bader Alharbi
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study is to explore the existing effect of gloss conditions on reading comprehension and vocabulary understanding of learners in the context of English as a foreign language. The study composed of 72 male students aged between 19 and 21 years selected from Qassim University in Saudi Arabia. The participants were divided into four groups, namely; L1 Arabic gloss, L2 English gloss, a combination of L1 and L2, and the last group with no gloss. Results and findings of the study revealed a significant difference regarding the comprehension of the texts among the experimental groups when correlated with the control group. Additionally, there was no significant change noted regarding performance among the experimental groups. Another finding indicated that the learners had a preference of L1 and L2 gloss over L1 gloss and L2 gloss types, with 93.03% of them preferring to read glossed texts. Overall, these findings suggest that the gloss and no conditions were significantly distinct. This research results will be beneficial for future studies that are interested in developing reading comprehension of EFL learners.

scholarly journals Reading in English as a Foreign language: Examining differences in reading speed, comprehension, efficacy and L1 cross-linguistic influence across grades

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-49
Author(s):  
Àngels Llanes Baró
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Reading Speed ◽  
First Language ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
English Reading ◽  
Fluency And Comprehension ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
L1 And L2

Reading in a second or foreign language (L2) is a more complicated process than reading in one's first language because it requires additional demands on the reader. Reading can be assessed from various domains. Reading fluency is known to be the most determining domain to identify reading problems (Rasinski, 2000). However, the goal of reading is comprehending a text, so comprehension should not be disregarded either. Despite the importance of reading in an L2, few studies have focused on examining its effects. The goal of the present study is threefold: first, to provide the estimates of L2 English reading rates of L1 Catalan/Spanish students of different ages and grades; second, to examine whether there are significant differences between participants of different grades in terms of reading rates, comprehension and efficacy; and third, to explore whether the students' reading rates in the L1 are correlated with their L2 reading rates and if so, the extent to which L1 reading rates explain L2 reading rates. 790 Catalan/Spanish learners of English participated in the present study. Participants were from 5th grade primary (age 12) to 2nd baccalaureate (age 18). They were asked to read two texts, one in English and the other one in their L1 (they could choose between Catalan or Spanish). They were asked to answer 7 multiple-choice comprehension questions after reading each text. Next, their scores on fluency (words read per minute), comprehension (percentage of comprehended text) and efficacy (a formula that integrates speed and comprehension) were obtained. Results show that reading fluency and comprehension are not linear and that they do not necessarily improve over time. Results also show that L1 and L2 reading fluency rates are highly correlated and that L1 reading rates explain a large percentage of L2 reading rates.

scholarly journals Reading Accuracy in EFL Students with a Transparent L1 Background – a Case Study from Poland

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-40
Author(s):  
Monika Łodej
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Regular Instruction ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Reading Accuracy ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
L1 And L2

Research indicates that L2 reading competence is influenced by L1 reading ability, L2 proficiency, and L2 decoding competence. The present study investigates the significance of two variables, regularity and frequency, in relation to English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading accuracy in students with a transparent L1. Fifteen 6th grade students in their sixth year of regular instruction in English took part in this study. Their mother tongue is Polish whereas English is their foreign language; thus, their language competence in L1 and L2 differs substantially. The research design followed Glusko (1979), Plaut (1996), and Wang and Koda (2007). There are four sets of real words. Two features of real words are manipulated for regularity and frequency. The study reveals that both conditions of script, regularity and transparency, affect reading accuracy in EFL students. However, the dimension of regularity is a stronger predicator of accuracy than the frequency with which the students encounter a word. From the pedagogical perspective, the collected data supports the use of structured reading instructions in the EFL classroom in order to restrain negative transfer of L1 to L2 reading strategies.

scholarly journals The Impact of Text Messaging on Iranian University Students as an English as a Foreign Language Instructional Tool to Enhance Learner Autonomy and Perception

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 184-202
Author(s):  
Behnam Behforouz ◽  
Anca Daniela Frumuselu
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Instructional Tool ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

This paper investigates the efficiency of text messaging as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructional tool to enhance learner autonomy and perception at the Islamic Azad University-South Tehran Branch, Iran. The study considers seventy-four learners to participate in the study after the administration of an Oxford Placement Test to measure their proficiency level. Participants are randomly assigned in experimental and control groups, including 37 participants each. A questionnaire is used as a pretest and posttest to measure learners` autonomy. Participants from the experimental group use text messaging (the treatment) to receive instructions, whereas those from the control group receive traditional classroom instructions in a face-to-face channel. A semi-structured interview is also used to collect date on experimental group participants` perception in using MALL in classrooms. The results reveal remarkable differences between the experimental and control groups’ means on their learner autonomy scores. However, the impact of the independent samples t-test has shown that there is no statistically meaningful gender difference among the learners regarding their autonomy scores. The findings based on the semi-structured interview showed complimentary views on MALL. The current study is beneficial since its outcomes could be relevant for EFL curriculum developers and English language teachers in the use of mobile learning and text messaging in the English classroom.

scholarly journals Digital life stories in year four of primary school

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-49
Author(s):  
Piroska DEMÉNY
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Digital Storytelling ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Written Text ◽  
Text Production ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Educational Requirement ◽  
Hungarian Language ◽  
The Impact

"Abstract: In Romania, the curriculum for mother tongue education for grade three and four of primary school defines spoken and written text production in various communication situations as a general educational requirement and competence. (see the curriculum for competence-based teaching of the mother tongue approved by Ministerial Decree No. 5003 of 4 December 2014. Hungarian Language and Literature, grade three and four). This experimental study examines the impact of digital storytelling on children’s text production skills. Our aim was to design an interventionprogramme that develops primary school children’s selfexpression, text production skills, creativity but also their digital competencies. The goal is to use digital storytelling to develop children’s composition skills, including staying on the subject, creating the connection between title and content, spelling, text appearance, and reaching the desired length. In order to achieve our objective, we devised experiments involving two cohorts of children in year four of primary school who were given stories selected from Angi Máté’s book Volt egyszer egy… (Once upon a time there was a…). Using these stories as a starting point, the members of the both groups created their own stories, the experimental group applying digital storytelling, while the control group applied the technique of collage."

scholarly journals RETHINKING THE USE OF L1 IN L2 CLASSROOM

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Zulfikar Zulfikar
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
L2 Learning

Using mother tongue (L1) in a foreign language (L2) classrooms is inevitable. Despite the debate over the adequacy of using L1 in the teaching of L2, this paper argues using L1 in the classroom does not hinder learning, and that L1 has a facilitating role to play in the classroom and can help L2 learning and acquisition. This paper shows that L1 is an inseparable part of language teaching, and it has several functions for both the students and teachers in English language learning and teaching. Therefore, those who believe L1 has a minimal role to play in the teaching of a foreign language are invited to think again of its role and contributions it makes to the fields of language learning and teaching.

scholarly journals The Effect of Comparative FonF Structure on Learning L2 Verb Components

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Gholam Reza Parvizi
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Judgment Task ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Perfect Form ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Grammatical Judgment ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

This study focuses on the impact of the type of form-focused instruction (FFI) on its efficiency in mastering L2forms. The hypothesis that FFI, which induces structural and metalinguistic salience on the basis of contrastiveanalysis of the learner’s L1 and L2, would be particularly effective at facilitating the acquisition of difficult L2 formswas tested in a quasi-experimental study comparing the effectiveness of two types of FFI, one with and one without acontrastive component. The contrastive FFI explicitly drew learners’ attention to the cross-linguistic differences inthe tense-aspect systems of their L2 and L1 while the non-contrastive treatment only focused on the tense-aspectsystem of the L2. The effects of these two types of FFI were assessed by analyzing the learners’ pre-test and post-testperformance on two tasks differing in the extent to which they involve the activation of explicit and implicitlinguistic knowledge: a grammatical judgment task and a controlled translation task. The subjects of the studycomprised of 43 students majoring in English language in the Iranian capital university, Tehran, 22 were selected asfor experimental group and 21 for control group randomly. The results of the study revealed that the quantitativeanalysis of the Grammatical Judgment Test (GJT) data indicated no significant effect of CFFI due to the novelty ofthe translatory technique, or the potential individual differences in the learning orientation of the learners. On thecontrary, the qualitative analysis indicated differential effects of this type of FFI according to the nature of targetform, i.e. CFFI was beneficial in raising the grammatical judgment of Persian Learners of English (PLE) regardingpresent perfect form but not effective in their judgment of ungrammatical progressive forms. In terms of translationtask, the CFFI appeared to be effective in the correct use of the target structures by PLE. This may be mainly due tothe fact that Translation Test (TT) needed explicit knowledge which was presented in CFFI and that translation is acontrastive activity in nature.

scholarly journals Investigating the Needs and Drawbacks of L1 in L2 Education: Students’ Perception

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
AbdulMahmoud Idrees Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Analysis And Evaluation ◽  
L2 Learning ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
L1 And L2

This paper aims at exploring the EFL Students’ Perspective of the Use of the Arabic (L1) in English language (L2) learning. The relevant literature reviewed concerning the development of some fundamental issues in L1 usage shows that this technique plays a vital role in breaking the language barriers, promoting better communication, and contributing to linguistic competence. The statistical analysis and evaluation of the responses of the questionnaire exhibited that the need for (L1) in L2 was rated higher. The students claimed that their mother tongue is effective since it increases their awareness of similarities and differences between (L1) and (L2) and helps in explaining the difficult areas in the foreign language. Likewise, they confessed that L1 has drawbacks. It could be said that (L1) is a helpful technique in (L2) learning process, but it should be handled with care.

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