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Literature review on reading comprehension
Essays on reading comprehension
Essays on reading comprehension
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Reading as a basis for vocabulary growth.
Learning new words in English can be done in quite a numerous ways. Reading is one of them. Let’s take a look at the following italicized text. Try to understand each word within it.
Her husband watched her vicariously as she gives birth to their first baby; I was there watching how lovely they looked. Not only did I learn to be reassuring, but also to be compassionate. I also want a baby some days, but I don’t know if I will ever want to watch my wife going through that pain; I’m simply sensitive.
When you read the text above, have you found unfamiliar words? If you have searched for their meanings, did the context help you understand what they referred to?
Background.
Most of the times when we
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However, relying solely on reading to develop English lexis is not an effective way to develop vocabulary. Relatively, it is essential for learners to combine an unequivocal approach to vocabulary learning with extensive reading to maximize their vocabulary power and the learning of English (Min, 2013, Para. 4).
ESL/EFL class
In addition, one best way to insert reading in an ESL/EFL class is the use of dictionaries. Min (2013), in his journal Vocabulary acquisition: Practical strategies for ESL students pointed out that for ESL, he alluded that “a very useful resource that can help learners comprehend the collocation partnerships of words is the encoding dictionary” (Min, 2013). It would help the L1 learners to first understand word meanings as they read through to increase their vocabulary acquaintance.
Conclusions
Both shared book reading and independent reading can develop learners’ vocabulary. The idea is to expose learners to new words as much as possible to implant these new words in their vocabulary knowledge. However, monitored reading should be done where possible for the amplification of some words during reading. Moreover, explicit approach to vocabulary should also work hand in hand with extensive reading. (Min, 2013). ESL/EFL class should have dictionaries at their disposal and if possible, have posters around the wall with different vocabulary; to create a vocabulary rich
takes her breath away. It seemed that in giving life to her child she had
I was interested in finding out how teachers can help ELL students to develop this type of vocabulary and whether or not there is a highly effective technique that can benefit every student in class. As classroom teachers we need understand the unique needs of our ELLs. We need to understand that while they are just as capable as our native speakers, they are at a distinct disadvantage because of the amount of information they must process all at once that is in a language they do not fully understand. I have found that there are a number of ways that teachers can foster vocabulary growth in ELLs, I am going to focus on of the most effective: use of graphic organizers.
Within this paper we will take a brief look at the Language Acquisition Principles and how they work on the behalf of ELL students. We will see how these principles can be applied within our own learning environment. There is much information from Walqui article that gives a brief overview of ELL students and how things looked in the past for these students. Now that times has change we will see how educators can make the requirements for ELL students better and more effective for teacher and students. Hopefully, as we look at ways of changing learning for our ELL students we must remember that every student learns differently. Even if you follow the principles from 1-8 we must keep in mind that everyone is unique and process things within their own time table.
In Yorba Buena high school, English Language Learning (ELL) student face obstacles connecting with the textbooks and comprehending the academic content. Section 10.1 of the Algebra 1 textbook (Larson, Boswell, Kanold & Stiff, 2007) is analyzed for comprehensibility and strategies to support students to connect with the text at intellectual level (Vacca, Vacca & Mraz, 2011). The chapter ten of the textbook will be thought at a tenth grade class during the week of March 11, 2012. Most of the learners in this Algebra 1 class are classified as level three and level four ELL students (California department of Education, 1999) and most of the students speak fluent conversational English. A page from section 10.1 of the Algebra 1 textbook is included (Appendix A, Figure x), page consist of about 250 words and defines five new content specific low frequency vocabulary.
To obtain a complete understanding of the word knowledge of students who are learning English, it is important their reading abilities (WTW, 2012). There are many ways to assess the reading abilities for ELL’s. For example, spelling inventories help explore the literacy knowledge of an ELL; however, the test should be first administered in their primary or first language. According to Words their way: Word Study for Phonics, Vocabulary, and Spelling instruction, “a spelling inventory in students’ spoken language can indicate their literacy levels in the primary language, and more specifically, show which orthographic features they already understand” (WTW, 2014). Bilingual learners rely on knowledge of their primary language to spell words in a second language (WTW, 2014). Teachers can also assess ELL’s reading comprehension through sequencing activity (Ada, 1990). For example, teachers can have ELL’s write individual sentences from the text on separate sheets of drawing paper; then read or have the students read each sentence and illustrate it (Ada, 1990). Teachers can also informally test students’ ability to sequence material from a story by printing sentences from a section of the story on paper strips, mix the strips; have students put them in order (Ada, 1990). According to Spanish-Language Children’s Literature in the Classroom, teachers should “read to newcomers every day” (Ada, 1990). Appropriate reading material for beginning English Language Learners (ELL) should include numerous illustrations that help clarify the text, story plots that are action-based, little text on each page, text that contains repetitive, predictable phrases, high-frequency vocabulary and useful words, text that employs simple sentence structures (Ada, 1990). When you read to beginning ESL students, be sure to make language comprehensible to them (Ada,
... Without adequate vocabulary, students do not have the ability to understand, discuss, and learn. However, teaching specific vocabulary in a meaningful and explicit way improves ones vocabulary and allows them to understand and gain knowledge from the classroom within which that vocabulary is being used. Consequently, learning vocabulary skills addresses the problem of students being able to read but not having sufficient vocabulary skills to understand what they are reading within and outside the classroom environment. Works Cited Gibbons, P. (2000).
English Language Learners range from Newcomers learning survival English and developing foundational literacy skills to Long-Term English Learners who have had 6 years or more of their education in English yet continue have significant language gaps. These students may speak English with little or no accent and still lack the vocabulary, grammar and grade level literacy to be successful in school. English language learners may remain silent in the classroom as they adjust to a new school, environment, and culture unless he is a native language comrade to interact with. The English language learners are concerned about decoding verbal and non- verbal communication as well as understanding the social culture framework of the school. Most of the time English language learners are observing during instruction, trying to repeat words used by others, memorizing simple phrases and sentences, tired by midday or be frustrated attending long lectures unaccompanied by visual and gestures, relying on first language translation used peer translation or bilingual dictionary, as the students begin to learner they become more involved in the classroom, they can respond non-verbally to commands, statements, and questions in simple form. As their oral comprehension increases, they begin to use simple word and phrases and may use English spontaneously. They can understand short conversation on a simple topic when reading students can understand a narrative text and authentic materials, although they will be below
In this article the evidence used from the first argument was from a study conducted by Biemiller and Slonim (2001) and Biemiller (2005). The average student knows about 8,000 words in 4th grade. The data that they showed explains that if a child is in 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade and they know 8,000 meanings then most of those meaning are of the same words. Concerning ELL Learners this is very important if we can know the specific words and meaning students should know and practice then this could be very helpful to ELL learners. We can focus on the words that they will use often and to be more structured with our language teaching of ELL students. The data shows that these words being learned in a similar way (200). Andrew Biemiller determined that there are around 1600 words that should be labeled as high priority. These words will most likely be in books in 1st or 2nd grade so if they don’t have the meaning then it will become a struggle to understand what they are reading (202). It is important to say that many times some students might now how to read the word fluently but they might not understand the
When observing and studying ELLs, there are many advantages and disadvantages in a classroom and school for these students. In the classroom, ELL students have many individual opportunities to develop their literacy, especially in small reading groups. English learners also, are pulled aside by an ESL teacher during class hours to focus on reading and writing skills of English. According to Netten, Droop, and Verhoeven (2010), reading is “an activity which benefits from practice” (414). Many of these students struggle to become literate at a young age, but the more practice they receive the better they will become when focusing on developing literacy. Also, ELL students have an advantage when learning two languages because this makes them bilingual. The goal of bilingual education is to develop
In order to enhance their vocabulary, to improve their comprehension of the text, students much first have background knowledge of basic definitions that will help them connect and build new vocabulary with former vocabulary. The students must also have the ability to look at the context of an unfamiliar word and be able to decipher the meaning based on the words or phrases that surround it. The foundational skills of accomplishing this is through studying early fundamental vocabulary words and then connecting new words with priorly known words of similar meaning. (Center for Research on Education, n.d.)
To accomplish vocabulary development, before reading the teacher needs to instruct their students on any prerequisites that they need to understand to interpret the text appropriately. This means the teacher has to pull out the most important words as well as those that may be too difficult for the stud...
Teaching students a language that is foreign can really be challenging for students as well as for the teachers. The dynamic rule for implementing instructing in a diverse class to English-learners is to use resourceful life skills such as diligence, hard work and patience. There are also methods that are involved in teaching English as a second language that can be creative for the teacher, yet beneficial to the student. First building a strong foundation that is essential to English learners will promote the language acquisition process. To do this teacher’s should always start with preparation. Advance preparation is essential in order to provide necessary adaptations in content area instruction and to make content information accessible for second language lear...
The use of Glossary of terms was one of the approaches chosen when embedding English into my session. As it recaps previous sessions and offers several benefits for the learner’s potential to progress academically. Simultaneously developing both the learners’ standard of English and ability to
Good reading skills are very important in learning languages. Reading improves spelling because as students learn to sound out letters and words, spelling comes easier. It helps to expand the vocabulary, since the best way to acquire a large vocabulary is to read. Students learn new words as they read and put them in their mind for later use. . They also unconsciously absorb the information about things like how to structure the sentences, how words are used in different contexts, and it gives a better understanding of the word usage and definitions than the cold facts of a dictionary. It improves a person’s vocabulary and knowledge without the person even knowing it. Even if students do not understand every word, they will hear new sounds, words and phrases which they can then try out, copying what they have heard. They can comprehend ideas, follow arguments and detect implications. Reading texts also provide good models for English writing. Krashen (2004) found that reading is extremely important in learning English, since it is the only way to “become a good reader, develop a good writing style, an adequate vocabulary, advanced grammar” and the only way to “become a good speller”.
How does a teacher assist students in bridging the gap from phonemic awareness and knowledge of sight words to adequate fluency and comprehension skills? How can we reach all students within our classroom? It is very important to remember that general comprehension strategies encompass two main categories of cognitive processing: top-down and bottom-up strategies (Farr & Conner, 2017). These two kinds of processing may be addressed through any of the standard comprehension strategies. Text are placing demands on the student’s linguistic abilities, memories, conceptual analysis, and knowledge of the words (Shanahan, 2017). The teaching of reading comprehension should focus on how to help students overcome these barriers. (Shanahan, 2017). Major attention needs to be put on reading and making sense of the text instead of answering a list of questions about the text. (Shanahan, 2017). Text choices are a very valuable part of teaching reading comprehension also. No matter the strategy that a teacher uses, if a student does not have any interest in the text that they are reading, they will be immediately be turned off from the text and the possibility of a student achieving deeper learning through the reading will