scholarly journals Reading in the second language classroom: Consideration of first language approaches in second language contexts

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Ion Drew

AbstractThis article reviews research on how three first language (L1) approaches designed to promote reading and other literacy skills have been applied to second language (L2) classrooms in Norway: The Early Years Literacy Programme (EYLP), Reading and Writing Workshops, and Readers Theatre (RT). Key ways that L2 readers differ from L1 readers are initially addressed, high-lighting the needs of L2 readers. Following Grabe (2009), L2 readers would benefit from a balanced approach to developing their reading skills, one that incorporates both implicit and explicit teaching and learning. Implicit learning involves plenty and frequent reading input, for example through extensive reading. Explicit learning involves, for example, the development of learners’ metacognitive and metalinguistic awareness, and an understanding of what it means to be a strategic reader. Benefits and challenges involved in the implementation of the three approaches are addressed. With the exception of RT, no research is known to exist at present on how these approaches have been adapted to L2 contexts outside of Norway. The research in Norway shows that each approach can help English as a foreign language (EFL) learners to develop their reading skills both implicitly and explicitly, as well as their metacognition, but that there are challenges, especially of a practical nature, involved in their implementation. Of the three, RT is arguably the easiest to apply to an L2 context.Keywords: L1/L2 reading approaches, implicit/explicit learning, metacognitionLesing i andrespråksklasser: Overveielser over førstespråkstilnærminger i andrespråkskonteksterSammendragDenne artikkelen går gjennom forskning på hvordan tre tilnærminger til lese- og skriveopplæring i førstespråket er blitt anvendt i andrespråksundervisning i Norge: The Early Years Literacy Programme (EYLP), lese- og skriveverksted, og leseteater. Innledningsvis diskuteres viktige forskjeller mellom førstespråkslesing og andrespråkslesing, med vekt på andrespråksleseres behov. Med utgangspunkt i Grabe (2009), vil andrespråkslesere dra fordel av en balansert tilnærming til å utvikle leseferdigheter, en tilnærming som inkluderer både implisitt og eksplisitt læring. Implisitt læring innebærer mye og hyppig lesing, for eksempel gjennom ekstensiv lesing. Eksplisitt læring innebærer for eksempel utvikling av elevenes metalingvistiske og metakognitive bevissthet og en forståelse av hva det betyr å være en strategisk leser. Fordeler og utfordringer ved å implementere disse tre tilnærmingene blir omtalt. Med unntak av leseteater, kjennes det ikke til forskning på hvordan disse tilnærmingene har blitt tilpasset andrespråkskontekster utenfor Norge. Forskning i Norge viser at hver av de tre tilnærmingene, både implisitt og eksplisitt, kan hjelpe elever til å utvikle sine leseferdigheter og metakognisjon, men at det fins utfordringer, særlig av en praktisk art, når de skal anvendes i andrespråkssammenheng. Av de tre tilnær-mingsmåtene synes leseteater å være den enkleste å anvende.Nøkkelord: førstespråkslesing, andrespråkslesing, implisitt/eksplisitt læring, metakognisjon

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 144-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikola Maurova Paillereau

Researchers in the field of the teaching and learning of phonetics agree that learners of a foreign/second language (L2) acquire identical vowels by positive transfer from their first language (L1). This statement prompted us to examine whether the French and Czech languages, differing in the size of their vowel inventories, possess any identical vowels that could thus be omitted from French as a Foreign Language (FFL) phonetic curricula intended for Czech learners. The quantification of the vowels’ phonetic similarity is based on the comparison of their (1) phonetic symbols, (2) formant values (F-patterns), and (3) perceptual characteristics. The combined results show that strictly identical vowels between the two languages do not exist, but some French vowels can be defined as highly similar to some Czech vowels. Different coarticulatory effects of vowels produced in isolation and in labial, dental and palato-velar symmetrical environments point to a very strong influence of phonetic contexts on vowel similarity. Indeed, no French vowel is highly similar to any Czech vowel in all of the contexts studied. The findings suggest that phonetic exercises designed for Czech learners should focus on allophonic variations of all French vowels.


Author(s):  
Alex P. Davies

One's linguistic discourse is directly linked to his or her identity construction. The author conducted a qualitative study that investigated the sociolinguistic and sociocultural identities, both current and imagined, of a newly arrived adolescent of refugee status, named Yerodin, through a photo-narrative approach. Yerodin was unique in that he was 11 years old when he arrived to the United States but did not have any prior formalized schooling. Therefore, he was illiterate in both his first language of Swahili and second language of English. This study took place during a summer school program that sought to develop Yerodin and his siblings' literacy skills before the upcoming school year. Findings illustrated Yerodin's current identity as one who appreciated his experiences in the refugee camp prior to resettlement and as an English learner. Furthermore, Yerodin realized that English, his second language, and academics were key to accessing his desired communities of identity, including aspects of American culture and friendships with “American peers.”


2008 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiko Koda ◽  
Pooja Reddy

Research on reading skills transfer has taken shape in two major disciplines: second language (L2) acquisition and reading. Inevitably, its evolution reflects major conceptual shifts in their respective research sub-fields. In L2 research, as a case in point, transfer was initially viewed as interference stemming from first language (L1) structural properties. This view, however, was significantly altered by the subsequent postulation that the language proficiency underlying cognitively demanding tasks, such as literacy and academic learning, is largely shared across languages, and therefore, once acquired in one language, it promotes literacy development in another (Cummins 1979). Reflecting the latter view, the current conceptualizations of transfer uniformly underscore the facilitative nature of previously learned competencies as resources available to L2 learners (e.g. Genesee et al. 2007; Koda 2008).


Author(s):  
Victa Sari Dwi Kurniati ◽  
Kankamon Suthum

This research is an action research that investigates the implementation of self-discovery autonomous learning using self-discovery technique with self-prepared worksheet in extensive reading class. The study was conducted in the contexts of a classroom teaching and learning situation. Self-discovery learning is believed to be effective in helping the students to improve their reading skills because this technique forces student to be autonomous learner. The study used action research model by Kemmis and Taggart. However, the researcher does not use cyclic treatment in this study, instead its implemented in one big cycle in one semester. As it is needed to be implemented in the whole semester to get the real result. The autonomous learning using self-discovery technique with self-prepared worksheet in extensive reading class was able to improve the students’ achievement in extensive reading, it is indicated in the post test scores compared to the pre-test score. Nevertheless, there are positives and negative effects found during the acting and observing phase. The positive effects are the students become more active in class, the students can explore the text freely as they like, thus, lead to the students’ better communication. Whereas, the class becomes noisy since the students have to discuss in their group and the lecturer had more burdens in finding, selecting, choosing and providing the text for the class activities. Keywords: autonomous learning, self-prepared worksheet, extensive reading.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 60
Author(s):  
Enni Akhmad Daud

This article is discussing about the children acquisition in second language. It is observing how a child acquires her second language through YouTube. It described the child age 3,7 years habit to watch video through YouTube. The daily notes were taken to see the child’s words, sentences, and also reaction after watching the video intensively for two months. The research observation result shown that a child starts her acquiring by perceiving the language through silent period. She needs 3-5 times to watch a video, and then she is able to imitate words and sentences in video, even though her pronunciation is not fluency yet. Moreover, she does not really understand about the meaning of the words or sentences. It is indicated that the children age 3,7 years old still has difficulties to understand the beyond meaning of the words or sentences. The implication of this research is to show the stages of children in acquiring their second language which is similar to their first language acquisition. Therefore, teaching and learning second language should not be different from teaching and learning first language.


Author(s):  
Haerazi Haerazi

To understand the principles of second language acquisition, we could adopt a variety of perspective. Research on second language acquisition (SLA) by children and adults is characterized by many different subfields and perspectives, both cognitive and social in orientation. Although children feature as participants in this research, it is relatively rare to find reviews or overviews of SLA that deal specifically with child SLA although there are a few important exceptions. This general lack of focus on children’s SLA is somewhat surprising, considering that data from children as first language learners have often provided a basis and impetus for SLA theorizing. Among the best-known first language studies to prove influential was Brown’s seminal work showing a predictable order of morpheme acquisition by children under the age of three. Many early years settings now welcome children and families from different cultures who use languages other than English. Young children who are starting to learn English as an additional language may also be attending a nursery school, pre-school, day nursery or child-minder perhaps for the first time. They will bring with them many skills and experiences from their home culture and will be both anxious and excited about their new situation. A good foundation for learning English as an additional language is embedded in quality early years practice. To know more about the principle of second language acquisition in children, this paper will present some issues related with it such as the nature and the role of language learning and the logical problem in language learning.


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


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. S1-S7
Author(s):  
Sibongile Shinga ◽  
Ansurie Pillay

In post-apartheid South Africa, 11 languages, including English and indigenous languages, were given equal status as official languages. Yet, more than 25 years after democracy, Black parents still believe that their children’s wealth and success depend on English, and therefore, send them to English-medium schools where they take English as a second language (ESL), known in South Africa as English First Additional Language (FAL). Many circumstances compel teachers to code-switch between English and learners’ first language. In the study reported on here we explored the reasons behind teachers’ code-switching in FAL classrooms in 4 rural high schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Concept maps, open-ended questionnaires and open-ended telephone interviews were used to generate data. Findings indicate that FAL teachers use code-switching to clarify difficult concepts, enhance understanding of the content presented, and keep learners engaged during lessons. We argue that the use of learners’ first language may be crucial in the teaching and learning of a second language.


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2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 46-48

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crispino Tosto ◽  
Tomonori Hasegawa ◽  
Eleni Mangina ◽  
Antonella Chifari ◽  
Rita Treacy ◽  
...  

AbstractChildren diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience a variety of difficulties related to three primary symptoms: hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. The most common type of ADHD has a combination of all three symptom areas. These core symptoms may negatively impact the academic and social performance of children throughout their school life. The AHA (ADHD-Augmented) project focused specifically on the impact of digital technologies’ intervention on literacy skills of children that participated in the pilot study and were diagnosed with ADHD prior to the intervention. Existing research has shown that augmented reality (AR) can improve academic outcomes by stimulating pupils’ attention. AHA project aimed at implementing an evidence-based intervention to improve ADHD children’s reading and spelling abilities through the enhancement of an existing literacy programme with AR functionality. The present paper reports preliminary findings of the pilot study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the AHA system in promoting the acquisition of literacy skills in a sample of children diagnosed with ADHD compared to the literacy programme as usual. Background information on the main characteristics and difficulties related to the teaching and learning process associated with children diagnosed with ADHD are first introduced; the design and methodology of the AHA project intervention are also described. The preliminary findings have shown that AHA project succeeded in delivering an AR solution within an existing online literacy programme, which integrates a set of specific technologies and supports interactive educational content, services, assessment, and feedback.


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