When Language Transfer is Negative

This paper analyses morpho-syntactic interference errors committed by learners of French as a foreign language in four Tanzanian universities: UDSM, UDOM, DUCE and Makumira. The paper has three specific objectives: (i) to identify morpho-syntactic interference errors, (ii) to account for their sources and (iii) to recommend a corrective treatment. The study included a total of 61 respondents. The data was collected through learners’ written texts in French from which a corpus was developed. The study was guided by the interlanguage theory and the error analysis approach. Data analysis was qualitative. The findings reveal that errors included the use of nouns with English origins (18.87%), omission of prepositions (36.79%) and absence of determiners (44.34%). The findings further show that these errors are due to previously acquired or learned languages: Swahili, ethnic community languages and English. Different recommendations are given following the findings. As regards the use of definite and indefinite articles in French, teachers should provide a guided reading of different French texts through which learners will be able to understand how articles are used. To master the use of prepositions, teachers should encourage learners to read a variety of texts in French as this can make them understand and internalize the different prepositions. Moreover, through regular exercises on word formation in French, learners may be able to familiarize themselves with French nouns, hence internalizing their forms. Finally, the learning of French nouns should be done in context.

EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF IMPLEMENTING GUIDED READING APPROACH TO ENHANCE THE READING PROFICIENCY OF ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Guided reading (GR) approach has been shown to have positive effect on reading fluency and comprehension. However, most studies on GR have focused on primary schools, specifically the Foundation Phase. Therefore, this study employed the GR approach to examine its possible effects on the reading proficiencies of Grade 9 English Second Language (ESL) learners in Gauteng province. Social and cognitive constructivism underpinned the study, which employed action research to determine the possible effects of implementing GR on the reading proficiencies of a sample of eight Grade 9 ESL learners who were purposively selected to participate in this study. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and reflection cards, oral and written reading tests. Results indicated that GR approach had caused a significant improvement in these learners’ reading fluency and comprehension because of collaborative learning and scaffolding. In addition, GR also developed a sense of ownership in their learning, a sense of community and innovative and inquisitive minds. The study recommends that learners who struggle with reading be identified early, and GR intervention strategies be implemented and monitored. Every school needs to have a reading policy and the Education Department should ensure that it is implemented and monitored. Keywords: guided reading, reading proficiencies, reading fluency, reading comprehension, second language

IMPLEMENTATION OF GUIDED READING PROCEDURE (GRP) IN IMPROVING READING COMPREHENSION

ABSTRACT This research aims to explain the implementation of GRP in improving students’ ability in reading comprehension and to describe students’ respond when a teacher implements GRP in teaching reading comprehension. The study belongs to collaborative classroom action research design in which the researcher and collaborator worked together. The subjects of this research were all of the students of VIII/D of MTsN Dewantara. This resaerch was conducted in two cycles by following the procedure of the action research. It began with the preliminary, planning, implementing and reflecting. The researcher used some instruments such as observation checklist, field notes, and test for students in learning of reading comprehension to collect the data. In analyzing the data, the researcher used the descpriptive qualitative meansrument to find out the result. To analyze the data, total score of the students divided with total number of the students, and got the average score of class. The activity of analyzing data done through three steps, namely: data reduction, data display, data conclusion/ verification. First cycle, there were three meetings, as the result the students got 68,8 in first cycle. Second cycle, there were three meetings, as the result students got 73,8. It means, that the students show their improvement in reading comprehension skill. The research result also indicated that the students have good response and motivation and GRP implementation improves students’ reading comprehension ability.