A quasi-experimental study of a peer-assisted strategy-based reading intervention in elementary school

Promising methods of reading instruction for elementary school students incorporate peer-assisted learning routines and reading strategies. In addition, models of reading comprehension point to the importance of various determinants of reading competence such as reading fluency and vocabulary knowledge. Multicomponent reading intervention programs need to be evaluated to determine IF and HOW they unfold their effects on the reading competence of elementary school students on the basis of such theoretical and empirical models. Accordingly, the present study was designed as a quasi-experimental study of a 20-lesson peer-assisted and strategy-based multicomponent intervention for whole-class instruction in elementary school. Linear mixed models and latent growth models were used to analyze the longitudinal data (pre-, post- and follow-up test) on the reading competencies (reading fluency, vocabulary knowledge, reading strategy competence, reading comprehension) and intrinsic reading motivation of students in the intervention (N = 187) and control group (N = 177). The results showed an interaction between the groups and the change in reading comprehension, indicating a significantly increased score in the intervention group at the posttest (d = 0.15) but not at the follow-up test (d = 0.12). The results of the latent growth model point to the importance of designing interventions that explicitly integrate reading strategies, reading fluency and vocabulary knowledge and also foster intrinsic reading motivation. In addition, reading fluency was revealed to be the strongest predictor of reading comprehension and the change in fluency over time was closely linked to reading comprehension development.     

Efficacy of digital picture book enhancements grounded in multimedia learning principles: Dependent on age?

We designed an experiment with stratified randomization to investigate the effects of visual and auditory enhancements in digital picture books on comprehension and incidental word learning. Participants were 183 children aged 3, 4, and 5 years (81 girls and 102 boys) from childcare centers and schools in the Southwest USA. We contrasted the still-image condition (an onscreen picture book with a voice-over reading the narrative aloud) with three enhanced conditions: a digital book that included auditory and visual enhancements, only auditory enhancement, or only visual enhancement. All participants watched and listened thrice to the researcher-assigned digital picture book version within three weeks. The posttests assessed children's story comprehension and book-based vocabulary. The visual and auditory enhancements benefited children's story comprehension and book-based vocabulary. However, a version with auditory and visual enhancements was less beneficial for comprehension than versions with single (auditory or visual) enhancements, particularly in the youngest group.     

用图式理论改革大学英语听力教学的探讨

学生在语言功底与背景知识方面的差异性是我国各层次本科院校普遍面临的问题。根据认知语言学领域的图式理论,教师可以通过分级教学、竞赛教学以及组织第二课堂活动的方式,有针对性地填补学生在语言图式和内容图式方面存在的空白。     

探究图式听力理论对英专学生听力成绩的影响及教学应用策略——一项基于图式理论的实证研究

图式理论不仅广泛适用于英语阅读理解教学,更应在英语听力教学中发挥作用。本文通过对图式、图式理论以及图式听力理论的概述,在实证研究的基础上证实背景知识水平与听力理解水平的相关性,揭示图式听力理论对英专学生听力成绩的影响,并探讨其在英语听力教学领域的启示。     

中学英语阅读理解高分策略研究

阅读理解是一项综合能力的测试,对于中学生而言,由于学生掌握词汇量偏少、对难句和文章主旨缺乏理解,极易产生恐惧心理。阅读题型实际是有规律可遵循,学生需掌握选项与文章、重点句等之间的细节关联,积累词汇、培养推测能力可获取高分。     

断句技巧在大学英语阅读教学中的应用

阅读历来都是语言教学中最重要的组成部分,培养大学生具有较强的阅读能力一直是大学英语教学的首要目标,但阅读同时也是许多英语学习者的“一道坎儿”。在大学英语阅读教学中加入阅读技巧的讲解和训练能让语言学习者达到事半功倍的效果。基于“顺句驱动”原则的断句技巧便于学习者清晰地了解句子的结构,迅速抓住语篇的具体信息,加强对语篇的理解,从而提高阅读速度和理解能力。     

Competing priorities: Singaporean teachers’ perspectives on critical literacy

This paper explores a group of Singaporean English language teachers’ knowledge and beliefs about critical literacy as well as their perspectives on how best to teach literacy and critical literacy in Singapore schools. A face-to-face survey was conducted among 58 English language teachers by using open-ended questions. The survey covered various topics related to literacy instruction including text decoding, meaning construction, and critical analysis of texts. The participating teachers believed strongly that reading and writing are transactional and interactional practices. However, they were less certain in their beliefs about teaching critical literacy including the critical, analytical and evaluative aspects of text reading. Some teachers saw a conflict between using time on teaching critical literacy and preparing students to pass their exams. As critical literacy is not a requirement at exams, they found it difficult to justify using time teaching it. The results suggest that the teachers’ belief systems are strongly influenced by the broad macro-structure of the educational system in Singapore and their own educational experiences.     

论提高马克思主义理论教学效果的关键

马克思主义理论教育在高校思想政治教育中处于主渠道的地位，要提高马克思主义理论的教学效果，真正发挥马克思主义理论的育人作用，必须做到知、信、用的统一，其中知是基础，信是关键，用是目的。     

体育科技英语文献阅读理解方法与技巧

本文依据英语阅读理解一般方法与技巧，结合体育科技英语文献特点，对体育科技英语文献阅读方法与技巧从词、词组、句子、段落、篇章等各层次进行了阐述与探讨。