THE EFFECTS OF THINK-ALOUD STRATEGY ON EFL YOUNG LEARNERS’ READING SKILL PRACTICE

Authors

  • Lam Ngoc Anh Thu Can Tho University, Vietnam
  • Truong Vien Assoc. Prof. Dr., Hue University of Foreign Languages, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejel.v7i5.4503

Keywords:

think-aloud, reading comprehension, reading strategies, young learners

Abstract

Think-aloud is described as a strategy in which students verbalize their thoughts while they read. This strategy is used to help students monitor their own thinking and comprehend the text. This current study aimed to examine the effects of the think-aloud strategy on EFL young learners’ reading skill practice and identify their attitudes towards the think-aloud strategy used by the teacher in teaching at a foreign language center in Can Tho city (Southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region). This study was experimental research using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative approach was used to investigate the effects of the think-aloud strategy on young learners’ reading skill practice while the qualitative data was collected to understand the young learners’ attitudes towards the use of the think-aloud strategy in teaching and learning reading skills. Pre-test, post-test, and semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. The study was conducted with one group of participants. The participants included 25 students who were at the age of 10-12 years old. The results from the pre-test and post-test showed that there was a significant difference in the students‘ reading comprehension performance after the intervention. Thus, the think-aloud strategy has a great impact on the improvement of students’ reading comprehension. Besides, there was no difference in reading comprehension achievement between males and females before and after the treatment. Especially, the results from the semi-structured interview revealed that all students had positive attitudes towards the think-aloud strategy.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Lam Ngoc Anh Thu, Can Tho University, Vietnam

    Lam Ngoc Anh Thu is an English teacher at a foreign language center in Can Tho City, Vietnam. She is currently completing her Master's Degree in Principles and Methods in English Language Education at Can Tho University, Vietnam. Her research interests include reading skills, teaching methods, and young learners’ cognition.

  • Truong Vien, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Hue University of Foreign Languages, Vietnam

    Truong Vien is an Associate Professor, Hue University of Foreign Languages, Vietnam. His research interests include second language acquisition, professional development, service learning, and pragmatics.

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Published

2022-10-25

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 5 (2022)

Section

Articles

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