Impacts Of Extensive Reading on English Vocabulary Learning: A Meta-Analysis

There are many differences in sentence structure between English and Indonesian. In this study, the researchers conducted a comparative analysis of past sentence patterns in English and Indonesian. The purpose of this research is to find out the past sentence patterns of English and Indonesian, and the similarities and differences between them. The methods used to conduct research are qualitative research and descriptive research to compare patterns between English and Indonesian past sentence patterns. A high school textbook named "Interlanguage" is used as English data, which Indonesian students generally use and understand, rather than college students' books, while Indonesian data is a translation of the selected English text for each past sentence pattern. This research shows that there are more differences than similarities between the two languages. There are six differences, Namely: 1) Verb form; 2) Irregular verb be; 3) English generally has four past tenses, but Indonesian does not; 4) progress; 5) perfect progress; 6) English has 7 basics In the past, there are 2 sentence patterns in Indonesian. Researchers found some similarities, namely: 1) perfect aspect; 2) sentence pattern arrangement. Since English and Indonesian have more differences in past tense sentence patterns than similarities, it is expected that Indonesian learners will encounter some difficulties in learning English past. Keywords: comparative analysis, past sentences, sentence patterns, English, Indonesian

Battling With Books: The Gamification of an EFL Extensive Reading Class

Background Extensive reading (ER) classes have become a popular way to promote reading in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classrooms because ER supports the idea of reading for pleasure. However, reading in the classroom can still become stale if students have little chance to reflect on what they have read or if they become burdened by the reading requirements. Aim In an attempt to create a more energetic ER classroom, we converted the classroom into a game-based environment with the aim of promoting L2 reading enjoyment and motivating students to read in a more focused manner . Method As for specifics, 55 female Japanese university students—divided into two groups based upon English proficiency—participated in a social book reading game called Bibliobattle whereby students discussed their favorite books in small groups. Three iterations of the game were incorporated into the ER classroom as a way to enliven reading activities. Results The game proved largely successful. From the data obtained in the debriefing questionnaires, students mentioned that they were motivated by the activities through reflection on their book’s content and through the sharing of specific details about what they had read with their peers. Although both groups of students indicated their motivation to play the game, this was especially true for the lower level readers—a group that had demonstrated more apathy towards ER in the past. Based upon our experiences while running the game, we recommend that Bibliobattles be implemented as specialized events in the ER classroom as a means to help stimulate a love for reading in a second language; however, it should also be noted that student preparation for such battles is time-consuming, so the number of battles per semester should be limited to a maximum of two per semester.

The Roles of Intensive and Extensive Reading Activities in Chinese EFL University Students’ Reading Comprehension Skills

This paper focuses on the appropriate methods for Chinese EFL university students to improve reading comprehension skills. The combination of intensive reading and extensive reading in the teaching environment is suggested in this study. Specifically, in-class reading should be composed of two parts: 1) intensive reading activities involving the explicit instruction of reading comprehension skills; 2) extensive reading activities to increase Chinese EFL university students’ background and vocabulary knowledge, which paves way for the comprehension of the text. After-class extensive reading should be composed of the reading of materials containing the repetition of new vocabulary appear in class, which could consolidate EFL learners’ reading comprehension skills they have already learnt in class.

Use of Short Stories in Language Learning

This study is an attempt to explore understanding of English teachers on the use of traditional short stories in language learning and find out the impacts of extensive reading of culturally embedded short stories in consolidating students' language learning. Phenomenological research design was adopted to carry out this study in which 8 English teachers represented 4 from public and 4 from institutional secondary schools were selected from Kirtipur Muncipality of Kathmandu district through purposive non-random sampling procedure. In-depth-interview and classroom observation were used as tools to collect data to address the objectives of this study. The findings of this study show that the language functions and vocabulary could be improved through short stories; language skills could be cultivated with the help of reading short stories; their higher order thinking skills are developed reading short stories; and they get entertainment, motivation and refreshment.

Enhancing Learner Autonomy through Extensive Reading: The Case of Book Reports

This paper investigates the autonomous learning strategies employed by students while participating in extensive reading (ER) and their perception of this method. Semi-structured interviews and autonomy strategies questionnaires are used as research instruments. The 25 participants are freshmen majoring in English. The findings illustrate some favored autonomous strategies that students used, such as summarizing, making inferences, taking notes, and using imagination. It is noticeable that using translation is an uncommon strategy chosen by these participants, which is somewhat unexpected in the Vietnamese context where students prefer it the most. For metacognitive and effective strategies, a sense of responsibility and monitoring received the most attention from the students. This result shows a positive attitude among the students in claiming that their autonomous learning can be enhanced via completing book reports. The findings from the current study provide insights into the implementation of book reports in extensive reading to enhance learner autonomy.

A versatile organisation: Mapping the military's core roles in a changing security environment

What roles are military institutions expected to play in today's rapidly changing security environment? How are they supposed to interact with the society they are tasked to protect? These questions have been posed by classical military sociologists as well as by a newer generation of scholars. Yet so far, a comprehensive mapping of the military's potential roles in contemporary society is missing. In this article we contribute to an update of this debate by providing a categorisation of the different roles and tasks that the military institution plays in current industrialised democratic states. We identify three core roles, each divided into subroles, by drawing on an extensive reading of 70 National White Papers and Security Strategies from 37 OECD member states: (collective) defence, collective security, and aid to the nation. We analyse how these roles and tasks influence recent configurations in civil-military relations. This study thereby contributes with: (1) a useful illustration of the military's shifting roles and tasks in contemporary society; (2) increased understandings of how the different roles impact civil-military relations and related to this; and (3) a practical starting point for further analyses of the military organisation's internal challenges related to its, at times, contradictory roles.

Chinese EFL University Students’ Self-Reported Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies

This study conducted the semi-structured interview to investigate the types of vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) Chinese English major university students employed and the factors for their VLS use. Chinese EFL learners frequently employed determination and cognitive strategies. They mainly used the mechanical strategies and focused on English words’ meanings based on Chinese equivalents. They preferred bilingual dictionaries, repetition, and memorization of fixed examples involving news words. They used metacognitive and memory strategies less frequently. This study proposed that Chinese EFL students’ rote memorization of English vocabulary was due to Chinese culture of learning, which values knowledge authority, consolidation and foundation, and also effort and perseverance. Additionally, the less L2 English immersion including L1 Chinese environment and non-communicative EFL environment also leads to Chinese EFL students’ VLSs use. Therefore, it is suggested that students be encouraged to use more memory strategies and metacognitive strategies. English teachers should provide students with strategy instructions and guide students to learn vocabulary through different types of VLSs in classes. After class, students could be encouraged to learn vocabulary incidentally through both intensive and extensive reading. 

A Preliminary Analysis of Text Coverage and Extensive Reading of Chinese ESL Learners-- Range Analysis of The Little Prince and Pride and Prejudice

One of the common problems for L2 learners in ESL reading is that the text is either too difficult to understand or too simple to challenge, particularly the extracurricular reading material. The Little Prince and Pride and Prejudice are typically listed in the key reading materials for L2 learners. Contrary to the popularity, a large number of L2 learners find it is hard to complete due to the low text coverage with existing vocabulary. The corpus has become an important language research tool to store language materials according to the specific goals and the way through certain technical means. This paper is going to explore the text coverage of The Little Prince and Pride and Prejudice by range analysis, and comparing with English Curriculum Standards to figure out suitable reading targets of these two materials.