Improving L2 Macro-Structural Processing in Students with Elementary or Intermediate English Proficiency Levels: an Instructional Approach Focused on Global Coherence in Reading Comprehension of Science Texts

  1. Gómez López, Angela
  2. Devís, Anna
  3. Sanjosé López, Vicente
Journal:
Porta Linguarum: revista internacional de didáctica de las lenguas extranjeras

ISSN: 1697-7467

Year of publication: 2014

Issue: 21

Pages: 51-68

Type: Article

DOI: 10.30827/DIGIBUG.30482 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

More publications in: Porta Linguarum: revista internacional de didáctica de las lenguas extranjeras

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that students have difficulties building the macro- structure from expository texts in English (as L2). The usual cause pointed out is a lack of language proficiency. Thus, instructional methods have focused on providing students with the necessary vocabulary and grammar knowledge. This study proposes and validates an instructional approach which improves students� L2 processing on the macro-structural level, focusing on reading strategies rather than on vocabulary or grammar. Comprehension monitoring on the macro-structural level was improved by performing instructional tasks devoted to establish global coherence. As a consequence, students� reading comprehension also improved.

Bibliographic References

  • Baker, L. and Anderson, R. I. (1982). “Effects of Inconsistent Information on Text Processing: Evidence for Comprehension Monitoring”, in Reading ResearchQuarterly, 17: 281-294.
  • Baker, L. (1985). “How do we Know When we don’t Understand? Standards for Evaluating Text Comprehension”, in D.L. Forrest-Pressley. G. E. Mackinnon. and T.G. Waller (Eds.), Metacognition.cognition and human performance. New York: Academic Press, 155-205.
  • Block, E. (1986). “The Comprehension Strategies of Second Language Readers”, in TESOL Quarterly, 20, 3: 463-494.
  • Block, E. (1992). “See How They Read: Comprehension Monitoring of L1 and L2 Readers”, in TESOL Quarterly, 26, 2: 319-343.
  • Bransford, J.D. and Johnson, M.K. (1972). “Contextual Prerequisites for Understanding: Some Investigations of Comprehension and Recall”, in Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour, 11, 6: 717-726.
  • Britton, B. K., Van Dusen, L., Glynn S. M., and Hemphill, D. (1990). “The Impact of Inferences on Instructional Text”, in A. C. Graesser and G. H. Bower (Eds.), The Psychology of Learning and Motivation. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 25:53-70.
  • Brown, A., R. Bransford, R. Ferrara. and Campione, J. (1983). “Learning, Remembering, and Understanding”, in P. Mussen (Ed), Handbook of Child Psychology: Cognitive development. New York, John Wiley and Sons.
  • Cohen, A.D. (1994). “English for Academic Purposes in Brazil: The Use of Summary Tasks”, in C. Hill and K. Parry (eds.), From Testing to Assessment: English as an International Language. London: Longman, 174-202.
  • Cordero-Ponce, W.L. (2000). “Summarization Instruction: Effects on Foreign Language Comprehension and Summarization of Expository Texts”, in Reading Research and Instruction, 39, 4: 329-350.
  • Corno, L. (1986). “The Metacognitive Control Components of Self-regulated Learning”, in ContemporaryEducationalPsychology, 11: 333-346.
  • Council of Europe (2001). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning. Teaching. Assessment. Cambridge (U.K.): Cambridge University Press.
  • Fernández-Rivera, J.J. (2008). “Análisis de los Procesos de Búsqueda de Información Textual Orientada a la Resolución de Cuestiones y su Influencia en la Comprensión de las Ciencias: el Caso de la Evolución”, Dissertation (Appendix V: 344-351). Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Valencia.
  • Flavell, J.H. (1981). “Cognitive monitoring”, in W. P. Dickson (Ed.), Children’s Oral Communication Skills.New York: AcademicPress, 35-60.
  • Gómez, A., Devís, A. and Sanjosé, V. (2012). “Effects of Summarization Tasks on Comprehension Monitoring of Science Texts in University Students with Elementary or Intermediate English Proficiency”, in Porta Linguarum. 18: 161-176.
  • Gómez, A., Devís, A. and Sanjosé, V. (2013). “Control de la Comprensión Macro-estructural Durante la Lectura de Textos Científicos en lengua Extranjera: ¿Algo más que Dominio del Idioma?”, in Revista Signos, 46, 81: 56-81.
  • Gómez, A., Solaz, J.J. and Sanjosé, V. (2012). “Competencia en Lengua Inglesa de Estudiantes Universitarios Españoles en el Contexto del EEES: Nivel de Dominio Lingüístico, Estrategias Metacognitivas y Hábitos Lectores”, in Revista de Educación, in press. Available in: http://www.revistaeducacion.mec.es/doi/363_175.pdf.
  • Han, F. and Stevenson, M. (2008). “Comprehension Monitoring in First and Foreign Language Reading”, in University of Sydney Papers in TESOL, 3: 73-110.
  • Johns, A.M. (1986). “Coherence and Academic Writing: Some Definitions and Suggestions for Teaching”, in TESOL Quarterly, 20, 2: 247-265.
  • Keenan, J.M., Betjemann, R.S. and Olson, R.K. (2008). “Reading Comprehension Tests Vary in the Skills They Assess: Differential Dependence on Decoding and Oral Comprehension”, in Scientific Studies in Reading, 12, 3: 281-300.
  • Kim, S.A (2001). “Characteristics of EFL Readers’ Summary Writing: A Study with Korean University Students”, in Foreign Language Annals, 34, 6: 569-581.
  • Kintsch, W. and van Dijk, T.A. (1978). “Towards a Model of Text Comprehension and Production”, in Psychological Review, 85: 363-394.
  • Koda, K. (1990). “The use of L1 Reading Strategies in L2 Reading”, in Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 12: 393–410.
  • Koda, K. (1996). “FL Word Recognition Research: A Critical Review”, in Modern Language Journal, 80: 450-460.
  • Kodminsky, E. and Graetz, N. (1986). “First Versus Second Language Comprehension: Some evidence from Text Summarizing”, in Journal of Research in Reading, 9, 1: 3-21.
  • Martínez, T., Vidal-Abarca, E., Sellés, P. and Gilabert, R. (2008). “Evaluación de las Estrategias y Procesos de Comprensión: El Test de Procesos de Comprensión”, in Infancia y Aprendizaje, 31, 3: 319-332.
  • Morrison, L. (2004). “Comprehension Monitoring in First and Second Language Reading”, in The Canadian Modern Language Review, 61, 1: 77-106.
  • Sánchez, E. (1993). Los Textos Expositivos. Estrategias para Mejorar su Comprensión. Madrid: Santillana.
  • Sanjosé, V., Solaz, J.J and Gómez, A. (2011). “Control de la Comprensión Durante la Lectura de Textos de Ciencias en Inglés. ¿Están Preparados los Estudiantes Universitarios Españoles para Integrarse en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior?”, in Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y Sociales, 25: 149-163.
  • Segalowitz, N. (2000). “Automaticity and attentional skill in fluent performance”, in H. Riggenbach (Ed). Perspectives on Fluency. Ann Arbor. MI: University of Michigan Press, 200-219.
  • Stanley, R.M. (1984). “The Recognition of Macrostructure: A Pilot Study”, in Reading in a Foreign Language, 2: 156–168.
  • Thiede, K.W. and Anderson, M.C.M (2003). “Summarizing Can Improve Metacomprehension Accuracy”, in Contemporary Educational Psychology, 28: 129-160.
  • Tsai, Y-R., Ernst, C. and Talley, P.C. (2010). “L1 and L2 Strategy Use in Reading Comprehension of Chinese EFL Readers”, in Reading Psychology, 31, 1: 1-29.
  • Walczyk, J.J. (2000). “The Interplay Between Automatic and Control Processes in Reading”, in Reading Research Quarterly, 35: 554-566.
  • Walter, C. (2004). “Transfer of Reading Comprehension Skills to L2 is Linked to Mental Representations of Text and to L2 Working Memory”, in Applied Linguistics, 25, 3: 315-339.
  • Walter, C. (2007). “Firstto Second-Language Reading Comprehension: Not Transfer, but Access”, in International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 17, 1: 14-37.
  • Winograd, P. and Johnston, P. (1982). “Comprehension Monitoring and the Error Detection Paradigm”, in Journal of Reading Behavior, 14, 1: 61-76.
  • Yamashita, J. (2002). “Mutual Compensation Between L1 Reading Ability and L2 Language Proficiency in L2 Reading Comprehension”, in Journal of Research in Reading, 25, 1: 81-95.
  • Zimmerman, B.J. (1990). “Self-Regulated Learning and Academic Achievement: An Overview”, in Educational Psychologist, 25: 3-17. http://www.readabilityformulas.com/flesch-readingease-readability-formula.php), accessed September, 2011.