The Effect of Using Scaffolding Strategies on EFL Students’ Reading Comprehension Achievement

Authors

  • Maysaa Rasheed Abdul-Majeed University of Baghdad /College of Education for Women
  • Narmeen Mahmood Muhammad University of Baghdad /College of Education for Women

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31973/aj.v0i111.1538

Keywords:

EFL, students, Scaffolding

Abstract

   Scaffolding is a process that supports and improves the performance of students before, during, and after reading. Graphic organizers, pictures, and charts can all serve as scaffolding tools. All of them can help, guide and shape students’ thinking when they apply them, i.e., students can discuss, write an essay, or use them with the difficult reading texts and new challenging information. This study is an attempt to investigate the effect of using scaffolding strategies on EFL students’ achievement in reading comprehension. To fulfil the aims of the study, the researchers have adopted two null hypotheses: first, there is no statistically significant difference between the achievement mean scores of students who practice scaffolding strategies and that of students who do not practice them. Second, there is no statistically significant difference between the experimental group students' achievement mean scores in the pre and posttests of reading comprehension. To achieve the aims of the study, a six-week experiment was conducted using pretest-posttest non-equivalent groups design. Two groups of 22 students each were selected from the population of second year students (N=123)/College of Education for Women/Department of English during the academic year (2013-2014). One group was selected as the experimental group that was taught reading comprehension using scaffolding strategies and other group was selected as the control group that was taught according to the lecture method. The students of both groups were exposed to pre and posttests. Using the t-test for two independent samples, it is found that there is a statistically significant difference in favour of the experimental group. This indicates that teaching by scaffolding strategies is more effective than the presentation practice production teaching or the Lecture Method teaching. Conclusions, recommendations and suggestions for further studies are put forward.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

• Al-Jubouri, Nibras Hassan T. (2003). “The Effect of Using Interactive Processing as a Teaching Technique on the Achievement of Intermediate Stage Pupils in Reading Comprehension in English”. Unpublished M.A Thesis, University of Baghdad.

• Attarzadeh, Mohammad (2011). "The Effect of Scaffolding on Reading Comprehension of Various Text Modes on Iranian EFL Learners with Different Proficiency Levels". In: Social Sciences and Humanities- MESOJ. N.4, Vol.2. Retrieved 22nd February 2014, from: www.social-sciences-and-humanities.com/journal/?p=3679.

• Bassiri, Mohammad Amin (2012). "The Impact of Scaffolding as a Strategy for Teaching Reading on the Motivation of Iranian L2 Learners". In: British Journal of Social Sciences. Vol. 1, No. 1. Retrieved 20th April, 2014, from: http://www.academia.edu.

• Bikmaz, Fatma H; Özhan Çelebi, Aslıhan ATA; Eren Özer;Öznur Soyak and Hande Reçber.(2010). “Scaffolding Strategies Applied by Student Teachers to Teach Mathematics”. In : The International Journal of Research in Teacher Education, Volume 1, issue 3. Retrieved 22nd February from: http://ijrte.eab.org.tr/media/volume1/issue3/3f.hazir.pdf.

• Bradley, Karen Sue and Jack Alden Bradley (2004) "Scaffolding Academic Learning for Second Language Learners". In: The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. X, No. 5. Retrieved 23rd March 2014, from: http://iteslj.org/Articles/Bradley-Scaffolding.

• Bremer, Christine D., Sharon Vaughn, Ann T. Clapper, and Ae-Hwa Kim. (2002). “Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR): Improving Secondary Students’ Reading Comprehension Skills”. In: Research to Practice Brief: Improving Secondary Education and Transition Services through Research. Vol. 1, Issue 2. Retrieved 20th February 2014, from: http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=424.

• Brown, H. Douglas. (2007). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching, 5th ed. USA: Pearson Education. Inc.

• Chastain, Kenneth. (1988). Developing Second Language Skills: Theory and Practice. 3rd. ed. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc.

• Dwyer, Carol A. (1982). "Achievement Test". In: Encyclopedia of Educational Reseach, Vol.1, edited by H.E.Mitzel.5th ed. New York: The Free Press, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.

• Ediger, Anne. (2001). “Teaching Children Literacy Skills in a Second Language”. In: Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language, 3rd ed. Edited by Marianne Celce-Murcia. USA: Heinle and Heinle Publishers.

• Comprehension – Fix-up Strategies -Reread or use fix-up strategies – self monitoring.(n.d.). Retrieved February 2014, from http://www.cer.education.nsw.gov.au/documents/249903/250184/Fixing%20up%20strategies.pdf.

• Darwesh, Abdul-Jabbar, and Faris Al-Jarah.(1997). An Elementary Course in Testing English as a Foreign Language. 6th ed. Baghdad: Iraq.

• Dole, Janice A. (2012)."Comprehension Strategies". In British Journal of Social Sciences. Vol. 1, No. 1. Retrieved 27th May 2014, from: http://www.bjss.baar.org.uk /current-issue.html.

• Downie, N.M. (1967). Fundamentals for Measurement: Techniques and Practices. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Dwyer, Carol A. (1982). “Achievement Testing”. In: Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Vol.1, edited by H.E. Mitzel 5th ed. New York: The Free Press, Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc.

• Ebel, Robert L. (1965). Measuring Educational Achievement. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice –Hall, Inc.

• Flowers, Debbie. (2013). What is Comprehension Reading? Retrieved 14th March, 2014 from: www.ehow.com/about_6625410_comprehension-reading.html.

• Frisby, A.W. (1970). Teaching English: Notes and Comments on Teaching English Overseas. London: Longman Group Ltd.

• Harris, T. L and R. E Hodges (1982). A Dictionary of Reading and Related Terms. Newark: Delaware.

• Hoffmann, Kristin Fisher. (2010). “The Impact of Graphic Organizer and Metacognitive Monitoring Instruction on Expository Science Text Comprehension in Fifth Grade Students”. Retrieved 22nd February, 2014 from: http://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/ir/bitstream/1840.16/6198/1/etd.pdf.

• Horwitz, Elaine Kolker. (2008). Becoming a Language Teacher: A Practical Guide to Second Language Learning and Teaching. London: Pearson Education Inc.

• Hosseini, Seyed Mohammad Hassan. (2008). Beyond the Present Methods and Approaches to ELT/ Education: The Crucial Need for a Radical Reform. Tehran: Jungle Publications.

• "Introducing Comprehension Strategies to Adult Readers" (2013). Retrieved February 12, 2014 from http://archive.familieslearning.org/html/free-resources/educator-resources/educator-resources-adult-learners/introducing-comprehension-strategies-to-adult-readers/

• Isaac, S. and W.B. Michael( 1977). Handbook in Research and Evaluation. New York: Robert R. Knapp.

• Miranda, Jessica Lynn Wells. (2013). "The Effect of Graphic Organizers on the Reading Comprehension of an English Language Learner with a Learning Disability". Retrieved 22nd February 2014 from: www.hawaii.edu/sls/wp-content/.../Miranda-Jessica.pdf.

• Mirhassani, Akbar and Hossein Farhady.(eds.). (2003). Reading Through Interaction "Book Two". Tehran: Zabankadeh.

• Moore, Paula (2005). Comprehension: Effective Teaching to Foster Comprehension Process. Retrieved on February 25, 2010, from http//www. Arliterarymodel.com/…/Dr%20 Paula %20Moore Comprehension. Pdf.

• Mousavi, Seyyed Abbas (2012). An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Language Testing. 5th ed. Tehran: Rahnama Press.

• Nunan, David (ed.) (2003). Practical English Language Teaching. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.

• Oller, J.W. (1979). Language Testing at School: A Pragmatic Approach. London: Longman Group Ltd.

• Richards, Jack C. and Richard Schmidt.(2002).Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics.3rd ed. London: Pearson Education Limited.

• Rivers, Wilga M. (1981). Teaching Foreign – Language Skills. 2nd ed. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

• Ruckdeschel, Susan. (2013). Scaffolding Comprehension Strategies Using Graphic Organizers. Retrieved November 2013, from: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson plans/scaffolding-comprehension-strategies-using-95.html

• Şahan, Ahmet. (2012) “Cognitive Reading Comprehension Strategies Employed By ELT Students”. In: Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi Sayı, Vol. 33. No.. Retrieved February 2014, from: Http://Sbe.Erciyes.Edu.Tr/Dergi/Sayi_33/1.Pdf.

• "Scaffolding Strategies". (2014). Retrieved 12th March 2014, from: http://drb.lifestreamcenter.net/workshops/scaffold/scaffold.html.

• Strategies for Reading Comprehension-

Summarizing.(2012). Retrieved 14th February, 2014, from: http://www.readingquest.org/strat/summarize.html

• Sukyadi, Didi and Eneng Uswatun Hasanah. (2013). Scaffolding Students' Reading Comprehension with Think-Aloud Strategy. Retrieved 4th February 2014, from http://didisukyadi.staf.upi.edu/files/2010/03/Scaffolding-and-Reading-Comprehension.doc.

• "Teaching Comprehension Strategies"(2010). Retrieved 12th January 2014 from http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/literacy/assets/pdf/packages/combook.pdf.

• Van Der Stuyf, Rachel R. (2002)."Scaffolding as a Teaching Strategy". Retrieved 12th February 2014 , from: www.sandi.net/cms/.../scaffolding_as_a_teaching_strategy.pdf.

• Ur, Penny.(1996). A Course in Language Teaching: Practice and Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Walqui, Aı´da. ( 2006)."Scaffolding Instruction for English Language Learners: A Conceptual Framework". In: The International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Vol. 9, No. 2 Retrieved 12th Fedruary 2014, from: http://www.educacion.gob.es/exterior/centros/losangeles/es/series/201003-Scaffolding-Walqui

Downloads

Published

2015-03-15

Issue

Section

English linguistics and literature

How to Cite

Abdul-Majeed, M. R., & Muhammad, N. M. (2015). The Effect of Using Scaffolding Strategies on EFL Students’ Reading Comprehension Achievement. Al-Adab Journal, 111, 91-118. https://doi.org/10.31973/aj.v0i111.1538

Publication Dates

Similar Articles

31-40 of 259

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.