Investigating the Interplay between Teachers’ Beliefs and Practice in Reading Strategy Use: A Case of Bahir Dar Town Secondary Schools EFL Teachers
Abstract
The study aims to explore the status of Bahir Dar town EFL teachers’ reading strategy use and reading instruction while teaching reading. In relation to this, teachers’ perception towards strategy training and their classroom practices were investigated. All English teachers of eight secondary schools in Bahir Dar that amount a total of 45, and 256 grades 9 and 10 students were taken as participants of the study. The students were randomly selected from those aforementioned schools. Questionnaire and classroom observation were used as data gathering instruments. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were employed. The statistical data analysis was descriptive and inferential. Accordingly, Percentage and mean scores were used to describe the frequency of occurrence of each item. One sample t-test was computed to see if the difference between the mean scores were statistically significant. To compare the EFL teachers' classroom practice between the private and government secondary schools, independent sample t-test was employed. Data obtained from the classroom observation was also qualitatively analyzed. It was found that teachers tend to believe that promoting reading strategy training is crucial in empowering learners to become efficient readers, but they do not train their students to use the strategies properly. Relatively speaking, teachers try to use few pre-reading strategies; however, most of the while-reading and post-reading strategies are not appeared to be employed. Though it was not statistically significant, the practice of teachers working at government schools had slightly higher mean score(128.20) in helping their students use reading strategies than teachers working at private schools(124.63).Finally, some recommendations were made based on the findings.
References
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50. Rosenthal, L., and Rowland, S.B.(1986). Academic Reading and Study skills for International Students. USA: Prentice Hall.
51. Rubin, D.B. (1987). Multiple Imputation for non- response in Survey. New York: J .Wiley & sons.
52. Saricoban, A. (2002). Reading Strategies of Successful Readers through the three phase approach. The Reading Matrix. 2(3):1-13
53. Scarcella, R.C; and R.L. Oxford (1992) The topes try of Language learning: The individual in the Communicative classroom. Boston: Heinle & Heinle.
54. Silberstein, S. (1994). Techniques and resources in teaching reading. Oxford University Press.
55. Smith, F. (1990). Reading. (2nd eds). Great Britain: Cambridge University Press.
56. Stanovic, K.E. (1988). To wards Interactive Compensatory Model of Individual Differences in the Development of Reading Fluency. Reading Research Quarterly 16(1):32-71
57. Stern, H.H.(1992). Issues and options in Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
58. Tsehai,L.(2009).An Investigation into the Reading Strategies Employed by English Major Second Year Students at Bahir Dar University. Unpublished M.A. Thesis. Bahir Dar: Bahir Dar University
59. Unrau, N.(2004). Content Area Reading and Writing. Person Prentice Hall.
60. Ur, P. (1996). A course in Language Teaching: Practice and Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
61. Williams, E. (1984). Reading in the language classroom. Hong Kong: Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
62. Yigiter,K., Saricoban,A.,Gurses,T.(2005).Reading Strategies Employed by ELT learners at the Advanced Level. The Reading Matrix.5(1)
2. AD-Heisat, M.A., Mohammed, S.,Krishnasamy,S.,Issa,J.(2009).The Use of Reading Strategies in Developing Students’ Reading Competency among Primary School Teachers in Malaysia. Europian Journal of Social Sciences, 12(2):310-319.
3. Aebersold,J.A, and Field, L.M. (1997). From Reader to Reading Teacher. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
4. Alyousef, H.S. (2006). Teaching Reading comprehension to ESL/EFL learners. Journal of Language and Learning. 5(1):63-73
5. Ambatchew, M.D.(2003).The Effect of Primary English Readers on Reading Skills in Ethiopia .Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. Pretoria: Pretoria University
6. Atkins, J., Hailom, B., and Nuru, M. (1996). Skill Development Methodology II. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University Press.
7. Anderson, N.(1991).Individual Differences is Strategy Use in Second Language Reading and Testing. The Modern Language Journal, 75:461-472
8. Anderson,N.J. (2003).Scrolling , clicking, and reading English: Online reading strategies in second/foreign language. The Reading Matrix,3(3) :1-33
9. Barnett, M.A. (1988). Reading through context: How real and perceived strategy use affects L2 comprehension. Modern Language journal, 72(1): 150-160
10. Birjandi,P.(n.d).The Application of Reading Strategies in Persian and English (A Comparative Study) The Journal of Humanities. Retrieved from WWW.SID.IR,29
11. Brown (1990). Strategies for developing Reading skill. Retrieved in http://WWW.nclre.org/essentials/ reading/ start read.htm.
12. Cabaroglue,N.,Yurdaisk,A.(2008).University Instructors’ Views about and approaches to Reading Instruction and Reading Strategies. The Reading Matrix.8(2):133-147
13. Carrell, P.L., Gajdusek, L., and Wise, T. (1998). Metacognition and EFL/ESL reading.Instructional science, (26):97-112
14. Cubukcu,F.(2007).An Investigation of Reading Strategies Employed by Trainee Teachers. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 95-110
15. Day,R.R. and Bamford,J.(2002).Top Ten Principles for Teaching Extensive Reading.Reading in a Foreign Language,14(2):pp 36-40.
16. Duke,N.J.,Pearson,D.(2002).Effective Practices for Developing Reading Comprehension. International Reading Association, 64:479-530
17. Ellis, N.C. (2003). Implicit and Explicit learning of Languages. London: Academic Press
18. Fitsum,M .(2009).An Exploration of English Teachers’ Approach in Teaching Reading; Top-down,bottom-up or Inteructive? Unpublished M.A.Thesis .Bahir Dar: Bahir Dar University
19. Foertsch,M.(1998).A Study of Reading Practices, Instruction, and Achievement in District 31 Schools, Hawai: North Central Regional Education Laboratory. Retrieved in http://www.nc rel.org/sdrs/areas/3labs.htm.
20. Fuad,H.(2008).The Practice of Employing Literary Texts in EFL Learning and Its Role in Fostering Reading Skills: A Case of Grade 9 Students.
21. Garner, R. (1987). Metacognition and reading Comprehension. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
22. Goodman, K.S. (1995). The reading process. In P.L. Carrell, J. Devine, and D.E. ESkey(eds).Interactive approaches to second language reading (P.11-21). NY: Cambridge University Press.
23. Grabe, W. (1991). Current Development in second language reading research. TESOL QUARTERY, 25(3):375-406
24. Grellet,F.(1995). Developing Reading Skills. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
25. Hafiz,F..M., and Tudor, L. (1989). Extensive reading and the development of language Skills. ELT Journal, 43(1):4-13
26. Harp,B., and Brewer, J.A. (1996). Reading and writing: Teaching for the connections.(2nd Ed.) Harcourt Broad Company.
27. Hedge, T. (2003). Teaching and Learning in the language classroom. Uk: Oxford University Press.
28. Hsieh,P.H.,Dwyer,F.(2009).The Instructional Effect of Online Reading Strategy and Learning Styles on Student Academic Achievement. Journal of Educational Technoligy and Society, 12(2):36-50
29. Juan,L.J.(2007).Problems in EFL Reading Teaching and Possible Solutions. Sino-Us English teaching.4(9):pp 10-21
30. Karbalaci, A.(2010).Iranian EFL and Indian ESL College Students’ Beliefs about Reading Strategies in L2.ISSN 1657-0790,12(2):51-68.Bogota:Colombia
31. Khonamri,.,Salimi,M.(2010).The Interplay between EFL High School Teachers’ Beliefs and Their Instruction Practices Regarding Reading Strategies. Novitas Royal.4 (1):96-107
32. Langan, J.(1998). Reading and Study skills. (6th ed.) The Mc Graw hill companies.
33. Lewis, J.(2001). Academic Literacy. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
34. Li,H.,Wilhem,K.H.(2008).Exploring Pedagogical Reasoning: Reading Strategy Instruction from Two Teachers’ Perspectives. The Reading Matrix 8(1):96-110
35. Li,F.(2010).A Study of English Reading Strategies Used by Senior Middle School Students. Asian Social Science Journal.6 (10)
36. Middleton,R.(1989).Strategies for Teaching Reading. International Reading Association, 22(8):725-750
37. Mokhtari,K., and Sheory, R.(2002). Measuring ESL students’ awareness of reading Strategies. Journal of Developmental Education, 25(3):2-10
38. Morales,K.N.(2010).Promoting the Readindg Comprehension of Freshman Engieenering Students through an Introduction Approach to Content-Based Materials.Philippine ESL Journal, vol.5.
39. Nga,N.T.(2009).Teachers’ Beliefs about Teaching Reading Strategies and Their Classroom Practices:A case Study of Viet Ba High School. Asian EFL Journal.Unpublished M.A. Thesis. Vietnam National University: Vietnam
40. Nunan, D. (1991). Language Teaching Methodology. Great Britain: Prentice Hall International Ltd.
41. Nunan,D.(1996).Learner Strategy Training in The Classroom: An action research Study. TESOL Jounal,6(1):35-41
42. Nuttal,C.(1982). Teaching Reading skills in a foreign Language. London: Heinemann.
43. Oka, E.R., and Paris, S.G. (1987). Patterns of Learning and Motivation among under Achiving Children. Hill Saddle, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
44. O.Malley, J.M., and Chamot, A.U. (1990). Learning Strategies in Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
45. Oxford, R.L. (1990). Language Learning Strategies: What every teacher should know. New York: Newbery House.
46. Paris, S.G., and Oka, E.R. (1989).Strategies for coping Strategies Text and Copping with Reading difficulties. Learning Disability Quarterly. 12(1):32-42.
47. Parrott, M.(1993). Tasks for language Teachers: A resource book for training and development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
48. Pimsarn,P.(2009).The Effect of Reading Strategies Instruction on Graduate Students’ Reading Comprehension. KumutJ Journal of Language Education, 12(1):25-36
49. Richards,J.C.,and Rodgers, T.S. (1986). Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching: A description and Analysis: New York: Cambridge University Press.
50. Rosenthal, L., and Rowland, S.B.(1986). Academic Reading and Study skills for International Students. USA: Prentice Hall.
51. Rubin, D.B. (1987). Multiple Imputation for non- response in Survey. New York: J .Wiley & sons.
52. Saricoban, A. (2002). Reading Strategies of Successful Readers through the three phase approach. The Reading Matrix. 2(3):1-13
53. Scarcella, R.C; and R.L. Oxford (1992) The topes try of Language learning: The individual in the Communicative classroom. Boston: Heinle & Heinle.
54. Silberstein, S. (1994). Techniques and resources in teaching reading. Oxford University Press.
55. Smith, F. (1990). Reading. (2nd eds). Great Britain: Cambridge University Press.
56. Stanovic, K.E. (1988). To wards Interactive Compensatory Model of Individual Differences in the Development of Reading Fluency. Reading Research Quarterly 16(1):32-71
57. Stern, H.H.(1992). Issues and options in Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
58. Tsehai,L.(2009).An Investigation into the Reading Strategies Employed by English Major Second Year Students at Bahir Dar University. Unpublished M.A. Thesis. Bahir Dar: Bahir Dar University
59. Unrau, N.(2004). Content Area Reading and Writing. Person Prentice Hall.
60. Ur, P. (1996). A course in Language Teaching: Practice and Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
61. Williams, E. (1984). Reading in the language classroom. Hong Kong: Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
62. Yigiter,K., Saricoban,A.,Gurses,T.(2005).Reading Strategies Employed by ELT learners at the Advanced Level. The Reading Matrix.5(1)
Authors
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“Investigating the Interplay between Teachers’ Beliefs and Practice in Reading Strategy Use: A Case of Bahir Dar Town Secondary Schools EFL Teachers”, Soc. sci. humanities j., vol. 2, no. 01, pp. 284–293, Jan. 2018, Accessed: Nov. 27, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://sshjournal.com/index.php/sshj/article/view/69
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