AN ACTION RESEARCH ON IMPROVING READING PERFORMANCE OF NON-ENGLISH MAJORED FRESHMEN AT FPT UNIVERSITY, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM / NGHIÊN CỨU HOẠT ĐỘNG HỌC TẬP TRONG LỚP VỀ VIỆC NÂNG CAO HIỆU QUẢ ĐỌC HIỂU CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ NHẤT KHÔNG CHUYÊN NGỮ TIẾNG ANH TẠI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC FPT, THÀNH PHỐ HỒ CHÍ MINH, VIỆTNAM

Authors

  • Nguyen Vu Duy English lecturer, FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • Thai Cong Dan Senior Lecturer, Dr., School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejals.v5i2.368

Keywords:

reading skills, reading strategy instruction, reading strategies, reading comprehension, reading performance, reading speed, mixed methods design, action research

Abstract

A mixed-methods design (Creswell & Creswell, 2018) was adopted in this action research to examine the effects of reading strategy instruction with four reading strategies - previewing the text, predictions, text-structure awareness, inferencing - on reading performance of non-English majored freshmen in English preparation classes of a private university in Vietnam. Thirty-six students in pre-intermediate English proficiency level participated in the study. Over six weeks, these students received the four reading strategies instruction explicitly in accordance with CALLA model. Via the explanatory sequential design, a type of mixed methods research involves two-phase data collection (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). The results of the pre-post-tests and 11 closed-ended response items in the paper-based questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively while 6 interviews were analyzed qualitatively to provide further explanations of the quantitative results. The study has found that four reading strategies might serve as techniques to improve reading comprehension then result in better reading performance, reading speed and higher frequency of reading strategies use.

 

Author Biographies

  • Nguyen Vu Duy, English lecturer, FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Mr. Nguyen Vu Duy is an English lecturer at FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He is currently pursuing his MA program in English Teaching Theory and Methodology at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Vietnam and will graduate in late 2022. He is interested in doing his research about English learning and teaching methodology, writing techniques and reading strategies. He can be contacted at duyfriedmann@gmail.com.

  • Thai Cong Dan, Senior Lecturer, Dr., School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam

    Mr. Thai Cong Dan, Former Dean of School of Social Sciences &Humanities (SSSH), Can Tho University (CTU), is currently a senior lecturer of English, School of Foreign Languages, CTU, Vietnam. He has held his PhD at Naresuan University, Thailand since 2010 in Educational Administration- English program. His main research interests are TEF/TESOL issues, intercultural communication, high school English learning and teaching, English program management, curriculum design, testing and evaluation and professional development. He can be reached at tcdan@ctu.edu.vn.

References

Aghaie, R., & Zhang, L. J. (2012). Effects of explicit instruction in cognitive and metacognitive reading strategies on Iranian EFL students’ reading performance and strategy transfer. Instructional Science, 40(6), 1063-1081

Anderson, N. J. (1999). Exploring second language reading. Boston: Heinle & Heinle Bailey, E. (2015). Reading comprehension skills: Making predictions. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/predictions-to-support-reading-comprehension-3111192

Brown, A. L. & Smiley, S.S. (1978). The development of strategy for studying texts. Child development, 49(4), 1076-1088. doi: 10.2307/1128747

Brown, H. D. (2000). Principles of language learning and teaching. New York, NY: Longman.

Burns, A. (2010). Doing action research in English language teaching: A guide for practitioners. New York: Routledge

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8th ed.). New York: Routledge

Cook, V. (1991). Second language learning and language teaching. London: Edward Arnold

Creswell. J. W. (2014). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (5th ed.). Pearson Education

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE

Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Duffy, G. G. (1993). Rethinking strategies instruction: Four teacher’s development and their low achievers’ understandings. The elementary school journal, 93, 231-247

Garner, R. (1987). Metacognition and reading comprehension. Ablex Publishing.

Goodman, K. (1996). Ken Goodman on reading. Portsmouth NH: Heinemann

Grabe, W. (2009). Reading in a second language: Moving from theory to practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Gray, W. S. (1960). The major aspects of reading. In H. Robinson (ed.), Sequential development of reading abilities (Vol, 90 pp.8-24). Chicago; Chicago University Press

Grett, F. (1983). Developing reading skills. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Halai, N. (2007). Making use of bilingual interview data: Some experiences from the field. Qualitative report, 12(3), 344-355

Harmer, J. (2001). The practice of English language teaching. Essex: Pearson Education Limited

Holschuh, J. & Nist, S. (2000). Active learning: Strategies for college success. Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon.

Hutchinson, T. & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes: A learning-centered approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Johnson, K. (2001). An introduction to foreign language learning and teaching. England: Pearson Education Limited.

Keith, R. (2009). Interviews. In Heigham, Juanita & Croker, Robert A. (Eds.), Qualitative research in applied linguistics - A practical introduction. (pp. 182-199). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Maarof, N., & Yaacob, M. (2011). Meaning-making in the first and second language: Reading strategies of Malaysian students. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 12, 211-223.

Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M. (2005). Second language research: Methodology and design. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Magliano, P. J., Little, D. L., & Graesser, C. A. (1993). The impact of comprehension instruction on the calibration of comprehension. Reading Research and Instruction, 32(3), 49-63

Moser, C. A. & Kalton, G. (1989). Survey methods in social investigation (2nd ed.) Aldershot, Gower.

Nunan, D. (1999). Second language teaching and learning. Heinz & Heinz Publisher

Nunan, D. (2015). Teaching English to speakers of other languages - An introduction. Routledge

Nuttall, C. (1982). Teaching reading skills in a foreign language. London: Richard Clay Ltd, Bungay, Suffolk

Nuttall, C. (2000). Teaching reading skills in a foreign language. Hong Kong: Macmillan Heinemann English Language Teaching

O’ Malley, J. M. & Chamot, A.U. (1990). Learning Strategies in Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Pearson, P. D. & Fielding, L. (1991). Comprehension instruction. In R. Barr, M. L. Kamil, P. Mosenthal, & P. D. Pearson (Eds), Handbook of reading research. New York: Longman

Phillips, J. K. (1985). Proficiency-based instruction in reading: A teacher education module. Sample materials-Chinese (Mandarin), English as a second language (beginning and advanced), French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Thai. U.S. Department of Education Office of International Studies, #G008402271.

Richards, K. (2009). Interview. In J. Heighman & R. A. Croker (Eds), Qualitative research in applied linguistics: A practical introduction. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Salataci, R., & Akyel, A. (2002). Possible effects of strategy instruction on L1 and L2 reading. Reading in a Foreign Language, 14(1), 1-17

Seidman, I. E. (2006). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. New York: Teacher College Press

Smith, H. W. (1991). Strategies of social research (3rd ed.). Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Orlando, Florida

Torgesen, J., Houston, D., & Rissman, L. (2007). Improving literacy instruction in middle and high schools: A guide for principals. Portsmouth, NH: RMC Research Corporation, Center on Instruction

Tindall, E., & Nisbet, D. (2010). Exploring the essential components of reading. Journal of Adult Education, 39, 1-9

Trabasso, T., & Bouchard, E. (2002). Teaching readers how to comprehend text strategically. In C. C. Block, & M. Pressley (Eds.), Comprehension instruction: Research-based best practices. New York: The Guildford Press

Watkins, P. (2017). Teaching and developing reading skills. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Zhang, L. J. (2008). Constructivist pedagogy in strategic reading instruction: pathways to learner development in the English as a second language (ESL) classroom. Instructional Science, 36(2), 89-116

Zwier, L., & Vosters, M. (2017). University Success (Transition Level). Pearson Education.

Downloads

Published

2022-10-13

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022)

Section

Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).