Pre-Reading Activities and Their Effects On English Reading Comprehension of ESL Basic School Pupils (Published)
The study sought to ascertain the effect of pre-reading activities on the English reading comprehension of upper primary pupils in Ho-West Basic Schools of the Volta Region of Ghana. The study adopted the concurrent mixed method design which aimed at gathering both quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously. The sample size of the study consisted 18 upper primary teachers and 99 upper primary pupils. The sample was drawn using census, simple random and purposive sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview guide were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Questionnaire data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation while the interview data were thematically discussed. The findings showed that pre-reading activities motivate and sustain pupils’ interest in the actual reading activity. They also activate the building of related information in such a way that new information is easily assimilated into learners’ existing fields of knowledge. Though pre-reading activities play a critical role in the reading comprehension classroom, the study revealed that a significant number of teachers do not use them. The few who do, neither use a variety of them nor use them regularly. The study recommends that curriculum developers and implementors should incorporate appropriate and regular pre-reading activities for assigned texts in the reading comprehension classroom.
Citation: Agbevivi S.L.G and Adogpa J.N. (2022) Pre-Reading Activities and Their Effects On English Reading Comprehension of ESL Basic School Pupils, British Journal of Education, Vol.10, Issue 16, 51-66
Keywords: Achievements, Classroom, English, Reading, Reading Comprehension, pre-reading activities
The Use of Literature in an EFL Classroom (Published)
This research aimed at investigating the students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the literature courses offered by the English Department in the College of Basic Education in Kuwait. The Students’ perceptions were examined based on a 5-statement questionnaire which addresses the extent to which students believe the literature courses enhanced their proficiency in the four skills. Overall, the participants viewed the literature courses as effective in improving their English competencies. However, they did not believe that the literature courses helped in improving the oral skills. The results also pointed to some inadequacies which seem to be related the implementation of the literature courses. In order for these inadequacies to be effectively redressed, the researchers recommend that further studies be conducted on other aspects, like the teaching methods and tools used in implementing the courses and the feedback from instructors.
Keywords: Classroom, Effectiveness, English, Literature