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.

Prior Knowledge Activation through Brainstorming to Enhance Malaysian EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Sharafi-Nejad ◽  
Shohreh Raftari ◽  
Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed Ismail ◽  
Lin Siew Eng
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Proficiency Test ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
Language Proficiency Test ◽  
Comparison Of The Results ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

<p class="1">Reading<em> </em>comprehension<em> </em>is a<em> </em>flexible and ongoing cognitive and constructive<em> </em>process. There are different pre-reading methods that can influence positively on EFL learners’ reading comprehension. Thus, this research investigated the impact of brainstorming as a pre-reading strategy on reading comprehension ability of Malaysian EFL learners. The study used an experimental design with fifty students who were between 12 to 18 years of age at intermediate level were considered homogenized. In order to have homogenized participants a language proficiency test was run. It was given to 70 students at Asian EFL Academy Language Institute in Pinang, Malaysia. The results of the proficiency test confirmed the homogeneity of the participants regarding their reading comprehension ability. Then, the researcher divided the students into two groups, control and experimental. An immediate- delayed test was administered to both groups before and after the implementation of the proposed technique on the experimental group. Experimental group received treatment for a given period of the time. At the end of the specified period of treatment both groups received a delayed test. None of the groups had any previous experience in brainstorming strategies. An immediate test was covered having 10 reading comprehension questions carrying out every two session at the end of each reading comprehension lesson. The last session was devoted to conduct the delayed tests including 50 questions at the end of treatment. The participants in the experimental group were instructed how to use brainstorming strategies before reading passages in 10 sessions for 20 minutes at Asian EFL Academy Language institute in Pinang, Malaysia. A statistical comparison of the results indicated that brainstorming strategies have a positive significant effect on reading comprehension ability of the participants. </p>

scholarly journals The Effects of Visualization Training Techniques on Reading Comprehension Ability of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Zahra Sanati
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
English Language ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Conventional Instruction ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
English Language Institute ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of visualization on reading comprehension ability of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. To fulfill the purpose of the study, 40 out of 100 intermediate learners of an English language institute were chosen by means of administering a PET Test. Based on the results of the homogenizing test, two groups were formed, and learners were not randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control one. Then, both groups were provided with seven teaching sessions. A pretest was given to all examinees to capture the initial differences. Learners in the experimental group were taught to visualize the words using a variety of visualization strategies before, during, and after reading the text in class. However, students in the control group were provided with a conventional instruction in traditional classes like reading the text aloud, translating the text, and providing synonyms and antonyms, if it was needed. After teaching sessions, a posttest was given to students of both groups. The statistical analysis of obtained results using paired t-test and ANCOVA revealed that the participants in the experimental group outperformed the participants in the control group. The findings of this study showed that the effect of visualization as an instructional technology on Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension was extremely noticeable. The findings of the present study may have some theoretical and practical implications for both Iranian EFL teachers and students, as well as for curriculum designers and developers.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Hymesˊ Ethnography of Communication Theory to Teach English Learnersˊ Reading Comprehension Ability: A Discoursal Approach

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parisa Farrokh ◽  
Reza Ebrahimi
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Communication Theory ◽  
T Test ◽  
Placement Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
And Control ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of discoursal approach on Iranian intermediate EFL learners&rsquo; reading comprehension ability. Quick Placement Test (QPT) was used to select 60 intermediate EFL learners as the participants of this study. Then, they were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Each consisted of 30 learners. Prior to the treatment, the participants of both groups were given a pretest to ensure their reading comprehension. The experimental group was exposed to the Hymes&rsquo; model. In the control group the researcher used placebo for teaching reading skill. Then a posttest was administered to both groups. An Independent samples t-test between posttests of the study and a paired-samples t-test between the pretest and posttest of the groups of the study were run. The results of the study revealed and emphasized that the Hymes&rsquo; model improved the learners&rsquo; reading comprehension.

scholarly journals The Effect of Cultural Schemata on EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension Ability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiba Bensalah ◽  
Noureddine Guerroudj
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Background Knowledge ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
Cultural Schemata ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

This research study aims to investigate the impact of cultural schemata on the process of reading culturally- loaded texts, and whether the use of pre-reading activities recompenses for the absence of cultural familiarity. In this regard, EFL readers bring to the text a wide range of experiences. Consequently, such diversity of prior knowledge influences their perception and interpretation of foreign language texts. Here comes the role of cultural schemata, which is indeed a very critical role. How do cultural differences in background knowledge influence student’s reading comprehension ability? To recognize the effect of cultural schemata on comprehension, it is essential first to understand the significant role that background knowledge plays in the reading process. Therefore, to carry out this research, a selection of reading comprehension tests was assigned for an experimental and a control group in a quasi-classroom experiment of first-year EFL students at Ibn Khaldoun University (Tiaret). While the experimental group was provided with pre-reading tasks to activate their background knowledge, the control group received no treatment. We collected data from 40 participants, and the results show that many EFL learners belonging to the control group display a lack of cultural schemata since their prior-knowledge is not activated, which may well impact negatively on their reading practices. By contrast, participants of the experimental group performed better in the comprehension test than those in the control group. In brief, there is a correlation between activating students’ background knowledge and the increase of reading comprehension ability.

scholarly journals Reading Strategies in Persian and English Languages and Their Influence on English Reading Comprehension Ability

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
M. Rahim Bohlooli Niri
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Schema Theory ◽  
English Reading ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
English Reading Comprehension ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Problem Versus ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

<p>The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between successful readers’ strategies in Persian and English languages, and the impact of instruction of such strategies on English reading comprehension ability. The present study relies on Casanave’s (1998) expanded view of schema theory, the strategy schema, Goodman’s (1971) language transfer or linguistic independent hypothesis and Clarke’s idea of short-circuit or language ceiling hypothesis in ESL or EFL. This study also aims at finding an answer to the question of reading problem versus language problem, first raised by Alderson (1984, pp. 1-27) and then followed by Carrell (1991, pp. 159-179).</p>

scholarly journals Do Different Instruction Modalities Matter? Exploring the Influence of Concept Mapping and Translation Strategies Instruction on the Reading Comprehension Ability of Adult EFL Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 761
Author(s):  
Mehran Davaribina ◽  
Shahram Esfandiari Asl
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Concept Mapping ◽  
Strategy Instruction ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Translation Strategy ◽  
Comprehension Ability ◽  
Reading Comprehension Ability

The present study was an attempt to compare the effect of concept mapping strategy instruction and translation strategy instruction on the reading comprehension ability of the Iranian EFL learners. To do so, 90 EFL learners at the intermediate level studying in a language institute in Ardabil, north Iran were randomly assigned into three equal groups (concept map, translation and control).  Having taken a reading pretest, the participants in experimental groups were instructed using mentioned strategies whereas the control group learners were taught the same content with no strategies integrated. Results of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that the participants in the experimental groups significantly outperformed the participants in the control group, suggesting that the application of concept mapping and translation strategy training can generate more positive effect on the reading comprehension ability of the learners. Also, the findings of the study indicated that the concept mapping group outperformed the translation strategy group on the reading posttest. Pedagogical implications and suggestions of the study will be discussed.

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