<p>This study investigated the longitudinal impact of an extensive reading approach on Korean EFL university students? reading comprehension, reading rate, vocabulary acquisition, and motivation to read over a 15-week semester. The study also examined the relationship between two types of vocabulary tests (i.e., a generalized vocabulary knowledge test and individualized vocabulary knowledge tests) designed for the study. Additionally, students? perceptions of extensive reading throughout the semester were explored. A quasi-experimental research design was employed using four intact classes, two comparison (n = 88) and two experimental (n = 83) classes. The comparison classes received 100-minute intensive reading instruction per week whereas the experimental classes received 70-minute equivalent intensive reading instruction and 30-minute extensive reading instruction per week.
A reading comprehension and rate test and a generalized vocabulary test were administered at pre- and post-tests. Sixty-two students in the experimental classes who read consistently throughout the semester also took individualized vocabulary tests to assess learning of the words that appeared in the reading materials read by individual students. Additionally, an extensive reading motivation questionnaire (post-test only) was administered to the experimental classes to determine which factors in the questionnaire would predict students' reading amount. Finally, a semi-structured interview protocol was employed at three different time intervals during the semester.
Repeated-measures MANOVA revealed that the experimental classes significantly outperformed the intensive reading classes on the combination of the three dependent variables (i.e., reading comprehension, reading rate, and vocabulary acquisition). Results of the investigation of the relationship between the two types of vocabulary tests revealed that the two tests showed similar patterns in terms of measuring vocabulary knowledge as a result of extensive reading. Finally, in terms of the participants? motivation to read, a multiple regression analysis indicated that one predictor variable (i.e., Reading for Academic Achievement) was able to predict the participants? motivation to read. In addition, qualitative results from interviews with 19 students showed that the participants had positive extensive reading experience over a 15-week semester; their perceptions of extensive reading and extensive reading practices support the findings from the quantitative data. Implications for extensive reading in L2 curricula are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:3708188 |
| Date | 16 July 2015 |
| Creators | Suk, Namhee |
| Publisher | Northern Arizona University |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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