scholarly journals The Impact of Implementing Graphic Organizers on Improving EFL Students’ Reading Comprehension of Narrative Texts and Motivation

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 120
Author(s):  
Mervat Albufalasa
Keyword(s):  
Short Stories ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Graphic Organizers ◽  
English Literature ◽  
Narrative Texts ◽  
Story Line ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Linear Pattern ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Impact

This research investigated mainly the effectiveness of implementing graphic organizers (GOs) on improving EFL students’ reading comprehension of narrative texts and motivation. EFL learners may face many difficulties when they analyze literary texts in terms of comprehending the story line with all its elements of fiction. The study was conducted on EFL students enrolled in a literature course at a university level. The data were collected using a mixed-method approach including quantitative data employing reading tests and questionnaires, and qualitative data using class observation. The study implemented three cycles, each one utilized a particular method of teaching short stories. The results show that the students’ performance was significantly higher when the EFL learners used graphic organizers to comprehend the story line of short stories when compared to using the story grammar (SG), more specifically the linear pattern. Students’ motivation was also enhanced in relation to reading and learning English literature. They developed more self-confidence and trusted their abilities to do well in literature classes. Their language anxiety was decreased as they improved in understanding narrative texts and were able to perform better in class activities. They also exerted effort to participate and were willing to work independently on reading tasks. All of this resulted in enhancing their motivation.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study of Effectiveness of Pakistani and Foreign Short Stories in Teaching Reading Skills to Pakistani Advanced EFL Students

2019 ◽  
Vol IV (I) ◽  
pp. 523-536
Author(s):  
Tahira Malik ◽  
Ubaidullah Khan ◽  
Shamim Ara Shams
Keyword(s):  
Short Stories ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Teaching Reading ◽  
Advanced Level ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Foreign Culture ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Difference

Reading is a critical language skill that is likely to develop better in nonnative learners if they are provided text related to their own culture rather than the native or foreign culture. This study aimed to explore the influence of Pakistani short stories on the reading comprehension of Pakistani EFL learners of advanced level. A group of students of Advanced Diploma was taught reading skills with the help of three foreign and three Pakistani English short stories. They were administered tests on the basis of respective stories to study the difference in the development of reading comprehension. The result revealed a massive difference as the learners performed markedly better in the exercises based on the Pakistani short stories.

scholarly journals From Instructed Writing to Free-Writing: A Study of EFL Learners

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824402110071
Author(s):  
Saleh Alharthi
Keyword(s):  
Control Group ◽  
Writing Program ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Writing Assignments ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Free Writing ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Structured Writing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Writing is an intricate process that encompasses various factors and is a key skill for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. Thus, writing assignments are vital for any curriculum. One of the essential aspects of effective writing includes good grammar knowledge. Advocates of process writing argue that a free-writing journal is a practical approach to teaching EFL students writing. This study is intended to examine the impact of the free-writing journal on EFL learners. This study was conducted on 80 students from a writing course at the University. Thirty-five students were randomly selected to join the free-writing program—the experimental group—and 45 students were kept in their regular structured writing program—the control group. The experimental group selected topics of interest to them and was encouraged to write in English freely without concern for errors, whereas the control group followed a regular structured writing program where the topics were selected for them and they wrote following a clear guideline. Five major areas were investigated to evaluate students’ progress: the number of words written, spelling, capitalization, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 students of the experimental group to elicit their perception of the free-writing program. According to the analysis, students in the free-writing program acquired better grammar acquisition than the control group. The researcher also observed students’ perception of free-writing at the end of the study and found that free-writing improved their writing skills.

Captions and reduced forms instruction: The impact on EFL students’ listening comprehension

ReCALL ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chi Yang ◽  
Peichin Chang
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Listening Comprehension ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Limited Capacity ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Reduced Forms

AbstractFor many EFL learners, listening poses a grave challenge. The difficulty in segmenting a stream of speech and limited capacity in short-term memory are common weaknesses for language learners. Specifically, reduced forms, which frequently appear in authentic informal conversations, compound the challenges in listening comprehension. Numerous interventions have been implemented to assist EFL language learners, and of these, the application of captions has been found highly effective in promoting learning. Few studies have examined how different modes of captions may enhance listening comprehension. This study proposes three modes of captions: full, keyword-only, and annotated keyword captions and investigates their contribution to the learning of reduced forms and overall listening comprehension. Forty-four EFL university students participated in the study and were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. The results revealed that all three groups exhibited improvement on the pre-test while the annotated keyword caption group exhibited the best performance with the highest mean score. Comparing performances between groups, the annotated keyword caption group also emulated both the full caption and the keyword-only caption groups, particularly in the ability to recognize reduced forms. The study sheds light on the potential of annotated keyword captions in enhancing reduced forms learning and overall listening comprehension.

scholarly journals A Review of Studies on Cognitive and Metacognitive Reading Strategies in Teaching Reading Comprehension for ESL/EFL Learners

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Aziza M. Ali ◽  
Abu Bakar Razali
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Correct Reading ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Metacognitive Reading Strategies

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.

scholarly journals Enhancing Elementary Level EFL Students’ Reading Comprehension and Writing Skills through Extensive Reading Enrichment Program

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Rania Adel Ibrahim Ahmed ◽  
Hussam Rajab
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Arab Countries ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
The Impact

<p>This quasi-experimental, longitudinal, quantitative study investigated the impact of Extensive Reading (ER) on developing second language (L2) reading comprehension and writing skills among primary school EFL learners in two Arab countries, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The study is based on an experiment conducted over a nine-month period on a convenience sample of 112 primary school students <em>(n=112</em>) divided into five groups, three experimental groups and two control group, where the students belonged to two different private schools in Egypt and two different international schools in two cities in Saudi Arabia. The experiment, in the form of an enrichment ER program, used graded readers for young learners and was designed to foster ER for pleasure. The study, guided by three hypotheses, incorporated two types of statistical analysis tests, paired samples t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The statistical analysis tests performed indicated marked improvement in English proficiency in the two experimental groups, with particular reference to reading comprehension and writing. A number of pedagogical implications and recommendations for future research are given. Additionally, the study highlights the issue related to insufficient exposure to English for young Arab EFL learners in their daily lives, which, unfortunately, seems to cause relapses in their L2 intake, despite having an age advantage.</p>

Input Enhancement through Using Author’s Biography: The Impact on Iranian EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension Ability across Gender

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 370
Author(s):  
Ayda Rahmani
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Proficiency Test ◽  
Control Male ◽  
Control Female ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Input Enhancement ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

This study aims to investigate whether enhancing input through author’s biography affect Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension ability across gender or not. To answer, a proficiency test of OPT was administered to a total of 120 male and female learners. Then 60 homogenous subjects, with the same English proficiency, were selected. The 60 participants were assigned into 4 groups randomly i.e. experimental male, experimental female, control male, control female. The study includes a pre-posttest design with 4 groups. The female and male experimental groups went through the treatment and finally the four groups were given a posttest.  Finally, descriptive and inferential statistics (A paired- samples t-test and a two-way ANOVA) were applied to analyze the statistical data. The findings indicated that input enhancement through author’s biography does affect Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension ability and male participants outperformed female participants.

The Impact of Teaching Critical Thinking Skills on Reading Comprehension of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 1869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotfollah Karimi ◽  
Farshad Veisi
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Teaching Reading ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Post Test ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

the purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of teaching critical thinking skills on reading comprehension of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. A sample of 50 students from Arshia Language Institute in Ilam, Iran participated in this study. They were both male and female students who were selected among 80 students based on their performances on PET. The participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. First, the two groups were exposed to the pre-test of reading comprehension in order to evaluate their knowledge on reading before the treatment. Based on scores obtained from the Pre-test, no significance differences were observed between two groups. After that the treatment was started and the experimental group was exposed to teaching critical thinking skills. Meanwhile, traditional methods of teaching reading comprehension were used for teaching reading comprehension to the control group. Finally, post-test of reading comprehension was delivered to both groups at the end of treatment to check possible differences.  To analyze the collected data, ANCOVA was run using SPSS Software Version 16. The results showed that teaching critical thinking skills positively affect reading comprehension of intermediate EFL learners, but the interaction of gender and teaching critical thinking was not significant.

The impact of self-perception on Iranian EFL learners' oral communication

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Ali Soltani ◽  
Mohsen Ghafari
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Impact

This study investigates the probable relationship between Iranian EFL learners' self-perception and assertiveness and their oral communication skills. A sample of 80 male and female Iranian EFL students participated in this study. The participants were initially required to complete Belbin's self-perception questionnaire, they were then asked to complete Oral Communication Strategies Inventory (OCSI). The results of the data analysis indicated that there was a strong positive correlation between the two variables and thus the higher the level of self-perception and assertiveness, the higher the level of communication will be. Keywords: Communication Strategies, Self-perception, Assertiveness.

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