مطالب مرتبط با کلیدواژه

Reading Comprehension


۸۱.

A Comparative Study of ZPD-Based Teacher and Peer Feedback in Comprehending Reading and Reading Strategies(مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)

نویسنده:
منبع: جستارهای زبانی دوره ۱۶ فروردین و اردیبهشت ۱۴۰۴ شماره ۱ (پیاپی ۸۵) 59 - 86

کلیدواژه‌ها: SCT teacher feedback Peer Feedback ZPD Reading Comprehension reading strategy

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Sociocultural Theory (SCT) of second language learning puts the emphasis on social interaction and regards it as a pre-requisite for cognitive development (Vygotsky, 1978). Drawing on the SCT, the present study aimed to delve into the possible effect of ZPD-based teacher and peer feedback on reading comprehension and reading strategy use of EFL learners. In so doing, 75 Iranian EFL learners, who were randomly assigned into two experimental and one comparison groups, participated in a quasi-experimental study. The data were collected through Oxford Placement Test (OPT), reading comprehension test and reading strategy questionnaire. One of the experimental groups received teacher feedback based on Aljaafreh and Lantolf's (1994) regulatory scale while the other experimental group accomplished the reading task using the feedback provided by the peers. Results obtained from the one–way ANOVA and Tukey test demonstrated that both experimental groups, teacher and peer, gained significantly more and performed better than the comparison group in reading comprehension while there was no significant difference between teacher and peer feedback groups in reading comprehension. The findings of the strategy questionnaire indicated no statistically significant difference between experimental and control groups, leading to the conclusion that students’ grouping did not influence their use of reading strategy. Therefore, it is concluded that peer feedback can be as effective as teacher feedback, aiding teachers to have a learner–centered classroom by implementing peer feedback rather than teacher feedback.
۸۲.

The Place of Self-efficacy and Self-regulation in Reading Comprehension in Online Classes

نویسنده:
منبع: Research in English Education Volume ۹, Issue ۲ (۲۰۲۴) 90 - 104

کلیدواژه‌ها: Internet self-efficacy Online Instruction Reading Comprehension Self-regulated Learning successful learning outcomes

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Online classes, among other things, may require confidence, persistence, use of effective strategies, managing distractions, and maintaining focus on the part of the learners. Due to the prevalence and unique nature of this mode of instruction, it seems necessary to examine the factors that contribute to successful learning outcomes. This study examined the function of internet self-efficacy and online self-regulated learning in an online reading course. 264 university students completed the Persian versions of the Online Self-regulation Questionnaire (Cho & Cho, 2017) and the Online Learning Self-Efficacy Scale (Zimmerman & Kulikovich, 2016). Their reading performance was evaluated by the reading section of the TOEFL. The results, analyzed by a bivariate correlation, showed a significant correlation between internet self-efficacy and reading comprehension. Also, a significant positive connection was found between reading comprehension and self-regulated learning. Learners confident in using online environments and active in regulating their cognitive processes during reading tasks showed better comprehension outcomes. The regression analysis findings, however, show that self-efficacy (β = 0.47, t = 8.15, p < 0.00) is a stronger predictor of reading performance than self-regulation (β = 0.16, t = 2.89, p < 0.00). The findings highlight the importance of promoting self-regulation and internet self-efficacy to improve reading comprehension. Further research should explore other factors, such as cultural perspectives, teaching methods, cognitive abilities, and technological advancements.
۸۳.

The comparative effect of direct corrective feedback and recast in a critical thinking setting on EFL learners’ reading comprehension(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Curriculum Research, Volume ۵, Issue ۱ , ۲۰۲۴ 76 - 98

کلیدواژه‌ها: corrective feedback recast Critical thinking EFL Learners Reading Comprehension

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The aim of present study was to explore the comparative effect of direct corrective feedback and recast on EFL learners’ reading comprehension in a critical thinking (CT) context. Sixty female EFL learners were selected from a larger group of 85 learners through convenience sampling and were given a Preliminary English Test (PET) to assess their proficiency levels. As the next step, the participants formed two random experimental groups. The reading comprehension abilities of both groups were measured before and after the treatment through administration of reading section of two separate versions of PET. Both groups received 12 sessions of the treatment. Two paired samples t-tests were utilized, both of which proved significant improvement for both groups from pretest to posttest. Then, the posttest scores of the two groups using an independent samples t-test were compared. Based on the results, the difference between the two groups turned out to be significant indicating superiority of the effect of the recast. This study can have important implications for the stakeholders in foreign language (FL) education.
۸۴.

Revisiting Mental Translation: A Potential to Promote Reading Comprehension in English for Specific and Academic Purposes Contexts(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: The Journal of English Language Pedagogy and Practice, Vol.۱۷, No.۳۴, Spring & Summer ۲۰۲۴ 1 - 21

کلیدواژه‌ها: mental translation Reading Comprehension ESAP context skills and strategies ESP learners

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Although teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes (ESAP) is equivalent to teaching reading comprehension, it seems that Iranian graduated students having studied ESAP at BSc and MSc levels are not efficient readers and they also have a lot of problems in obtaining information from English materials related to their field of study via translation. Because mental translation is inevitable while reading English texts, the question is how to make the best use of this spontaneous strategy to promote reading comprehension. Sixty-six students majoring in midwifery, nursing and surgical technology at MSc level were selected based on convenience sampling. They were classified as lower-intermediate students by a standard placement test. Their translation practices and reading activities were investigated in an attempt to discover the strategies most frequently used by such learners. Through content analysis of these documented activities and interviews with the learners and observation of ESP classes, the common problems in reading comprehension as well as translation processes were identified. These problems originated from mental translation. These problems were addressed by using strategy-based instruction. The findings implies how to expliot mental translation as an efficient strategy through equipping learners with the prerequisite reading comprehension and translation skills and strategies.
۸۵.

Individual Psychological Factors: Facilitators of PSL Learners’ Reading Comprehension Ability? a mixed methods study(مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)

نویسنده:
منبع: English Language Teaching and Learning. No. ۳۱, Spring & summer ۲۰۲۳ 199 - 214

کلیدواژه‌ها: Individual psychological factors Self-Efficacy Emotional Intelligence autonomy Reading Comprehension Persian second language learners

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This mixed methods nationwide research aimed to examine the relationships between three variables; namely, self-efficacy (S-E), emotional intelligence (EI), autonomy (A), their sub-constructs and reading comprehension ability of Persian second language (PSL) students. Participants were 141 PSL students from 28 different countries studying at 12 universities across Iran. Data were collected through S-E, EI, A scales, and a reading comprehension test and were analyzed using Pearson correlation. The results revealed that there were significant links between the variables and their sub-constructs and reading comprehension ability. Also, structured interviews were administrated with 45 participants, the results of which confirmed those obtained from quantitative instruments. Moreover, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to access more in-depth perception of the variables and explore the strengths of the causal relationships. The three independent variables strongly predicted reading comprehension, with S-E being the strongest predictor. Also, three out of four sub-constructs of EI, and two out of three sub-constructs of A were powerful predictors of reading comprehension. In terms of the increasing number of PSL learners, the findings of the present study could be helpful for L2 (particularly PSL) teachers, learners, and academic policymakers.
۸۶.

A Comparison of the Impact of Simplified and Authentic Literary Texts on High School Learners’ Reading(مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)

نویسنده:
منبع: English Language Teaching and Learning. No. ۳۴, Fall & Winter ۲۰۲۴ 427 - 442

کلیدواژه‌ها: rubric literary short texts Literary Authentic Texts Reading Comprehension Instructional Materials

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The usefulness of using literature in language teaching has always been acknowledged by language teaching researchers who have studied the said issue from different aspects and in various contexts. The present investigation tries to discover if the use of authentic and simplified literary texts could improve learners’ reading achievement, and then check if the impacts of these two types of texts on the learners’ reading were significantly different. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the researchers included ninety high school students in the data collection process. These students were taught in three groups including two experimental and one control, comparing the two types of literary texts with the usual course materials. Using pre-tests and post-tests scores, the learners' performance was compared, then t-test and ANOVA were employed to analyze the significance of the differences found between the means. It appeared that the use of literary texts could assist high school learners improve their performance in reading compared to the use of usual course materials. The findings further confirmed that the use of simplified literary texts could improve the learners’ reading better than the authentic literary texts. The findings are specifically important in teaching reading, which serve as the basic skill for building the required knowledge in EFL contexts. Literature-based language teaching seems to enjoy the power to change and improve language teaching programs through presenting on-demand and productive teaching materials and add to learners’ life awareness besides the language knowledge.
۸۷.

The Interplay of Iranian EFL Learners’ Tolerance of Ambiguity and their Reading Performance Encountering Unknown Vocabularies: Taking their L2 Reading Anxiety into Account

نویسنده:
منبع: Research in English Education Volume ۹, Issue ۳ (۲۰۲۴) 61-74

کلیدواژه‌ها: Tolerance of Ambiguity L2 reading anxiety unknown vocabularies Reading Comprehension EFL Learners

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The interplay of Iranian EFL learners’ tolerance of ambiguity and their performance encountering unknown vocabularies in reading comprehension while considering their L2 reading anxiety was investigated in this study. A sample of 70 intermediate-level EFL learners from a language institute in Shiraz, Iran participated in the study. The Second Language Tolerance of Ambiguity Scale (SLTAS) and the Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale (FLRAS) were used to measure participants’ ambiguity tolerance and L2 reading anxiety, respectively. To assess students’ performance in dealing with new words in reading comprehension, two vocabulary tests and two reading tests were given to them. The data were analyzed by both SPSS and PLS 4 software using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings revealed significant relationships between ambiguity tolerance and reading comprehension performance encountering unknown vocabularies, between L2 reading anxiety and reading comprehension performance encountering unknown vocabularies, and between ambiguity tolerance and L2 reading anxiety. Additionally, L2 reading anxiety was found to play a significant mediating role in the relationship between ambiguity tolerance of Iranian language learners and their performance in dealing with unknown vocabularies in reading comprehension. Moreover, the study provides evidence that reading anxiety does not play a moderating and significant role in the relationship between ambiguity tolerance of Iranian language learners and their performance in dealing with unknown vocabularies in reading comprehension. The study suggests that ambiguity tolerance and L2 reading anxiety are important factors that influence Iranian EFL learners’ performance encountering unknown vocabularies in reading comprehension. This study highlights the importance of fostering ambiguity tolerance and reducing L2 reading anxiety in both language teaching and learning. In addition, it provides insights for syllabus designers to d
۸۸.

Empowering EFL learners: How teacher interactional scaffolding and peer collaborative scaffolding reshape EFL learners' reading comprehension(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Curriculum Research, Volume ۶, Issue ۱ , ۲۰۲۵ 1 - 24

کلیدواژه‌ها: Blended Learning Context Peer Collaborative Scaffolding Reading Comprehension Teacher Interactional Scaffolding

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Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill for language learners, yet EFL students often encounter obstacles in developing this ability. Grounded in the sociocultural theory, the current study explored the impact of teacher interactional scaffolding and peer collaborative scaffolding on the reading comprehension of Iranian EFL learners in a blended learning context. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating quantitative analysis of pre-and post-reading comprehension tests as well as qualitative examination of semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that both teacher interactional scaffolding and peer collaborative scaffolding significantly enhanced learners' reading comprehension. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the two scaffolding approaches. Qualitative data analysis uncovered EFL learners' positive attitudes toward both forms of scaffolding, citing the dynamic support, collaborative problem-solving, and development of metacognitive skills as key benefits. The study underscores the pivotal role of scaffolding in facilitating EFL reading comprehension, with teacher interactional and peer collaborative scaffolding serving as complementary pedagogical strategies. Implications of this research include the need for EFL instructors to incorporate a judicious blend of teacher-led and peer-mediated scaffolding techniques to optimize learners' reading comprehension development. Additionally, the study highlights the adaptability of scaffolding approaches to blended learning environments, where the interactions between teachers, peers, and learners may necessitate innovative scaffolding implementations. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on the efficacy of sociocultural learning principles in enhancing EFL reading comprehension.
۸۹.

Evaluating the Influence of Formative and Suative Assessments on EFL Learners’ Listening and Reading Comprehension(مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)

نویسنده:
منبع: English Language Teaching and Learning. No. ۳۵, Spring & summer ۲۰۲۵ 15 - 38

کلیدواژه‌ها: Formative assessment Summative Assessment listening comprehension Reading Comprehension

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This study investigates the effects of summative, formative, and combined assessments on the development of listening and reading comprehension skills on advanced Iranian EFL learners. Data were collected from 40 advanced EFL learners, aged 19 to 35, from intact classes at a higher education institute, divided into three experimental groups, each receiving one of the assessment types (summative, formative, or a combination of both), along with a control group. Learners’ progress in listening and reading comprehension was measured over a four-month period using pre- and post-tests administered at the end of the term. Data analysis involved ANOVA, ANCOVA, and post hoc LSD tests. The findings of this longitudinal study revealed that while the combined application of formative and summative assessments had a significant positive impact on listening comprehension, neither assessment type alone contributed to improvement in this area. In contrast, the results showed that all forms of assessment—whether summative, formative, or combined—led to notable improvements in reading comprehension. These results highlight the differential effects of assessment types on listening and reading skills, suggesting implications for assessment practices in EFL contexts.
۹۰.

Investigating the Impact of Flipped Classroom Instruction on ESP Students’ Reading Comprehension: students’ attitudes in the spotlight(مقاله علمی وزارت علوم)

نویسنده:
منبع: English Language Teaching and Learning. No. ۳۵, Spring & summer ۲۰۲۵ 209 - 226

کلیدواژه‌ها: Active Learning English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Flipped Classroom Reading Comprehension students’ attitudes

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The flipped classroom model has gained traction in language education; however, its application within English for Specific Purposes (ESP) remains underexplored. The present study investigates the impact of flipped classroom instruction on ESP students’ reading comprehension with a focus on their attitudes toward the model. Adopting a quasi-experimental methodology, the study utilized pretest and posttest assessments alongside a 15-item Likert-scale questionnaire to gather data. The research sample comprised 21 second-semester ESP students from Guilan University majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology, who engaged in a 10-week intervention. Pre-class preparation included instructional videos and reading materials, while classroom activities centered on group discussions and practical problem-solving tasks. Findings demonstrated a substantial enhancement in posttest scores, validating the approach as effective for improving reading comprehension. The survey results revealed highly positive student attitudes, particularly in terms of engagement, autonomy, and collaborative learning. These findings highlight the potential of the flipped classroom model to address the unique academic requirements of ESP students by blending discipline-specific resources with interactive learning strategies.
۹۱.

On the Effect of Text-based Concept Maps vs. Image-based Concept Maps on Developing Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension

نویسنده:
منبع: Research in English Education Volume ۱۰, Issue ۱ (۲۰۲۵) 79-91

کلیدواژه‌ها: concept map text-based concept mapping image-based concept mapping Reading Comprehension

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The study aims to investigate the influence of image-based and text-based concept maps on the reading comprehension abilities of Iranian Intermediate EFL learners. A total of 90 learners participated in the study, consisting of 55 females and 35 males, all between the ages of 18 and 32. Participants were selected from intact classes at three English language schools in Sabzevar, Iran. This research was organized as a quasi-experimental study, in which the participants were segmented into two experimental groups and one control group. The intervention lasted for five weeks, with two sessions each week, each session running for one hour and thirty minutes. The outcomes from the assessments were analyzed using an independent sample t-test and ANOVA test, revealing that the image-based concept map instructional approach improved learners' reading comprehension. In terms of cognitive understanding and creativity, students who utilized image-based concept mapping outperformed their peers in the text-based mapping group. Additionally, the findings indicated that the image-based concept map teaching strategy could assist students in obtaining a more profound understanding of reading materials. Teachers might consider integrating visual mapping techniques to encourage deeper comprehension and facilitate more meaningful learning experiences, which could ultimately lead to better academic performance in language learning contexts.
۹۲.

Meta-Cognitive Strategy Use in Reading Comprehension among Iranian EFL Learners of Varying Levels of Proficiency(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics Vol. ۱, No. ۳, fall ۲۰۰۸ 91 - 108

کلیدواژه‌ها: motivation Reading Comprehension High Proficient Readers Low Proficient Readers Meta-Cognitive Strategies

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This study explored the use of meta-cognitive strategies (MCS) in reading comprehension among Iranian EFL learners with varying levels of proficiency (i.e. high proficient vs. low proficient). Furthermore, there was an attempt to investigate the impact of motivation on language learners’ MCS use. The proposed hypotheses predicted: 1) there is no significant difference between the high proficient EFL learners’ use of MCS compared to their low proficient peers, and 2) there is no relationship between the two groups’ MCS use and their motivation. One hundred participants, aged 16-24, were selected from the intermediate and advanced EFL learners in Jihad Daneshgahi Institute of Kermanshah. The data was collected through: a) a modified version of the FCE reading paper, b) a modified version of the PET reading paper, c) Taraban's (2006) MCS Questionnaire, and d) an adapted form of Gardner's (1985) motivation questionnaire, and was submitted to a series of independent samples t-test and co-relational analysis. The results indicated: 1) a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the use of meta-cognitive strategies, favoring the highly proficient readers, and 2) a significant relationship between the use of meta-cognitive strategies and motivation of the participants.
۹۳.

The Effect of Semantic Mapping on Reading Comprehension(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics Vol. ۱, No. ۳, fall ۲۰۰۸ 204 - 220

کلیدواژه‌ها: Reading Comprehension EFL Learners General English Semantic Mapping

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The research reported here examined the relative effectiveness of semantic mapping, as an interactive pre-reading strategy, on reading comprehension of Iranian undergraduate students (non-EFL majors). It also examined whether there was an interaction between gender and the effect of teaching semantic mapping strategy on reading comprehension. The participants in this study consisted of 120 male and female pre-intermediate undergraduate students taking a General English course at UrmiaUniversity in Spring 2008. A Certificate of Advanced English Reading Paper (CAE) was administered to measure the students’ proficiency at the beginning of the research. Later, the participants were semi-randomly (Mackey and Gass, 2005) assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was instructed on how toemploy semantic mapping strategy in reading while the control group received normal reading instruction. The post-test results supported the findings of earlier research that instruction on the application of semantic mapping contributed to reading comprehension. Further findings and implications are discussed in the paper.
۹۴.

ESP Instruction: Traditional vs. Eclectic Method in Relation to Reading Comprehension of Iranian Agriculture Students(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics Vol. ۲, No. ۴, Spring ۲۰۰۹ 159 - 193

کلیدواژه‌ها: Reading Comprehension ESP Instruction Traditional method Eclectic Method

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This study aimed at finding out the effect of two different methods of ESP instruction, namely, the traditional grammar translation method and an eclectic method on improving university students' reading comprehension ability. The main assumption was that compared to the Grammar-Translation which is probably not an efficient method, an eclectic method that focuses on improving reading comprehension ability of the university students through the use of some necessary strategies and skills, as proposed by Brown (2003), seems to be more effective.The participants, within the age range of 18-24, included 72 male and female Agriculture students who were semi-randomly assigned to two experimental groups (i.e. eclectic vs. traditional) each consisting of 36 learners. Following a pre-test, treatment (15 weeks, 2 sessions per week), and a post-test, the obtained data was analyzed using two-way ANOVA to examine the effects of the independent variables, while taking gender as a moderator variable. The results of the analysis showed that the eclectic method was significantly more effective compared to the traditional one in improving reading comprehension ability of the students, while gender did not turn out to have any significant effect on the students' reading comprehension. The findings are discussed in relation to effective reading comprehension instruction through the use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies in ESP teaching contexts.
۹۵.

The Effect of Teaching Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies on Reading Comprehension Ability(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics Vol. ۴, No. ۸, Spring ۲۰۱۱ 208 - 227

کلیدواژه‌ها: Reading Comprehension Reading Metacognitive Strategy Language learning strategies (LLSs) strategy-based instruction (SBI) reading strategy Cognitive Strategy

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The demands of the changing world impose on learners the need to become autonomous readers. This places a responsibility on the shoulders of the teachers to develop an approach to teaching reading which will help readers become independent strategic ones. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of teaching reading strategies on the development of reading comprehension of Iranian EFL learners. An experimental design was adopted to accomplish this investigation. To do so, two intact classes of 35 students were selected. Then to find out the homogeneity of the participants, Oxford Placement Test was administrated to both classes’ among whom 60 students who scored above 47 were selected as homogeneous and were assigned to two experimental and control groups. The students in the experimental group participated in 10 sessions and were taught two strategies of reading comprehension: activating background knowledge and contextual strategies. At the same time, the materials in the control group were taught through conventional methods of reading and translating the texts into Persian. In the 10th session, the post-test was administrated to both groups. The results of the t-test confirmed the positive effect of reading strategies instruction on the development of reading comprehension ability. These findings may furnish language teachers with the empirical evidence that capitalizing on the students' awareness of the strategies and helping them to use these strategies will significantly develop their reading abilities.
۹۶.

Enhancing Reading Comprehension via Metacognitive Strategy Training: Gender and Discipline Variation(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics Vol. ۵, No. ۱۱, fall ۲۰۱۲ 134 - 157

کلیدواژه‌ها: Reading Comprehension Gender Metacognitive Strategy Training discipline

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The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to investigate the impact of a metacognitive training program on university freshmen’s reading comprehension skill in a three-credit General English (GE) Course. The participants included eight groups of freshmen, in four disciplines: Management, Psychology, Mechanical Engineering and Computer Engineering. They were randomly assigned as four experimental and four control groups, each including approximately 30 participants. The same materials were taught to all groups after their initial homogeneity in English was assessed via Analysis of Variance of the pre-test scores obtained from a Key English Test (KET). In the experimental groups, one whole session was devoted to explicitly teaching three sets of metacognitive strategies and five reading strategies: skimming, scanning, previewing, using context clues, and making inferences. These groups also received metacognitive awareness-raising while applying the strategies in each reading lesson for six sessions. The analyses of the research data revealed that metacognitive strategy training promoted the participants’ learning when integrated with a reading-focused GE course regardless of their gender and a small effect from discipline. The findings have implications for teachers, materials developers, and teacher trainers.
۹۷.

The Impact of Code-Switching on Bilingual EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics Vol. ۶, No. ۱۳, fall ۲۰۱۳ 167 - 179

کلیدواژه‌ها: Reading Comprehension EFL Learners bilinguals code-switching

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This study sought to investigate the probable effects of code-switching (CS) on Iranian bilingual English learners' reading comprehension. In this study, two intact classes of freshmen, taking the four-credit Reading and Comprehension Course 1, comprising a total of 70 participants, with 35 in each class, were randomly assigned as the experimental and the control groups after their initial homogeneity in reading comprehension was assessed via the reading section of the Preliminary English Test (PET). In the experimental group, the participants were allowed to switch codes during the twenty-hour-treatment that extended over five weeks. The participants in the control group, however, were required to rely exclusively on English as the language of communication and instruction with no CS. The independent samples t-test of the post test scores, administered at the end of the treatment, revealed significant differences in the reading comprehension of the two groups. The experimental CS group outperformed the control group. Since variables such as proficiency, teaching materials, and teach methodology, were kept constant in both classes, CS might be regarded as one of the probable causes of different levels of achievement in reading comprehension in both groups. Cautious use of CS to promote different aspects of the learning process will be discussed in the paper.
۹۸.

Breadth or Depth: The Role of Vocabulary Knowledge in Iranian EAP Students’ Reading Comprehension Performance(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics Vol. ۷, No. ۱۴, Spring ۲۰۱۴ 40 - 52

کلیدواژه‌ها: Reading Comprehension Vocabulary breadth depth of vocabulary knowledge

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Two main features of vocabulary knowledge, namely breadth and depth, have a fundamental role in vocabulary research. This research aimed to study the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension, and to investigate which feature of vocabulary knowledge, breadth or depth, had better impact on identifying reading comprehension performance. Therefore, three language tests were used, including a reading comprehension test, Vocabulary Levels Test, and Word Associates Test. 64 students majoring in Medicine at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, participated in the study. The outcomes of the two-tailed Pearson Correlations and multiple regression analyses declared that test results on vocabulary breadth, depth of vocabulary knowledge, and reading comprehension were positively correlated and breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge were closely interrelated.
۹۹.

The Effect of Background Music While Silent Reading on EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics Vol. ۷, No. ۱۴, Spring ۲۰۱۴ 102 - 119

کلیدواژه‌ها: Reading Comprehension Background music Silent Reading Mozart Effect

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This study attempted to determine the effect of background music while silent reading on Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension. The participants were 57 Iranian EFL learners between the ages of 14 and 16 in two 3rd grade high schoolclasses at pre-intermediate proficiency level. Before treatment,both experimental and control groups took a reading comprehension pretest. In the experimental group, the researchers played Mozart sonatas as background music and asked them to read the passage silently and then answer the reading comprehension questions. In the control group, the procedure was the same, but no music was played while silent reading by the students. After ten sessions, the students of both groups were asked to answer another independent but parallel form of reading section of PET as their post-test. The independent samples t-testresultsindicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group in reading comprehension posttest, and listening to background music while silent reading had a significantly positive effect on Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension. The results of the present study have implications for EFL students, teachers, and teacher educators as well as syllabus designers and materials developers.
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The Effect of Iranian EFL Learners’ Self-generated vs. Group-generated Text-based Questions on their Reading Comprehension(مقاله پژوهشی دانشگاه آزاد)

نویسنده:
منبع: Journal of Applied Linguistics, Vol.۸, No.۱۶, Spring ۲۰۱۵ 94 - 109

کلیدواژه‌ها: Reading Comprehension Question- Generation Strategy

حوزه‌های تخصصی:
تعداد بازدید : ۱۱ تعداد دانلود : ۷
Reading comprehension is one of the most important skills, especially in the EFL context. One way to improve reading comprehension is through strategy use. The present study aimed at investigating the effect of question-generation strategy on learners' reading comprehension. The participants in the study were 63 intermediate students from three intact groups in Resa institute in Boukan, They were randomly assigned to two experimental and one control groups. They were given two samples of the reading section of the standardized Preliminary English Test (PET) as the pre- and post-tests. The students in the experimental group A generated text-based reading comprehension questions individually, and in the experimental group B in groups of three but the learners in the control group answered the reading comprehension questions provided in the text. The results of ANOVA revealed that the students in the experimental group B, who employed group-question generation strategy, outperformed the experimental group A, who employed individual- question generation strategy and the control group in the reading comprehension post-test. The findings can have some implications for EFL teachers and syllabus designers.