Improving reading fluency and comprehension in adult ESL learners using bottom-up and top-down vocabulary training
Journal Title: Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching - Year 2016, Vol 6, Issue 1
Abstract
The current research examines the effect of two methods of vocabulary training on reading fluency and comprehension of adult English as second language (ESL) tertiary-bound students. The methods used were isolated vocabulary training (bottom-up reading) and vocabulary training in context (topdown reading). The current exploratory and quasi-experimental study examines the effectiveness of these methods in two intact classes using pre- and posttest measures of students’ reading fluency and comprehension. The results show that bottom-up training had a negative impact on fluency and comprehension. In contrast, top-down training positively affected fluency but had no impact on comprehension. Further, the results do suggest that fast-paced reading may potentially lead to improved comprehension. These findings have implications for the type of language instruction used in classrooms and, therefore, for teachers of adult ESL learners.
Authors and Affiliations
Rhonda Oliver, Shahreen Young
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP256568
- DOI 10.14746/ssllt.2016.6.1.6
- Views 105
- Downloads 0
Critical thinking in the intercultural context: Investigating EFL textbooks
The multicultural world has made intercultural teaching necessary. It should focus on students’ ability to comprehend quickly and accurately, and then act appropriately and effectively in a culturally complex environment...
Finding the key to successful L2 learning in groups and individuals
A large body studies into individual differences in second language learning has shown that success in second language learning is strongly affected by a set of relevant learner characteristics ranging from the age of on...
Unscrambling jumbled sentences: An authentic task for English language assessment?
Jumbled sentence items in language assessment have been criticized by some authors as inauthentic. However, unscrambling jumbled sentences is a common occurrence in real-world communication in English as a lingua franca....
Noticing grammar in L2 writing and problem-solving strategies
Noticing plays an important role for second language acquisition. Since the formulation of the output hypothesis (Swain, 1985), it has been proven that producing output can lead to noticing. Studies on noticing have reve...
Investigating the use of speaking strategies in the performance of two communicative tasks: The importance of communicative goal
Although the ability to speak is usually seen as a key manifestation of learners’ ability in the target language they are attempting to master, research has not given ample attention to strategies that can be employed to...