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Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 16. Number 4, December 2025 Pp.239-256
School of Foreign Languages
Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China
Faculty of Languages and Communication
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak, Malaysia
Faculty of Languages and Communication
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak, Malaysia
The Dalton Plan, an educational approach centered on student autonomy through assignment contracts and self-paced learning, offers a potential alternative to traditional teacher-center instruction. This study examines its application within the challenging context of Chinese College English (CE) reading courses, where students often struggle with academic reading comprehension and lack self-regulation skills. A quasi-experimental design was employed to evaluate the impact of Dalton Plan-based instruction on the reading performance and learner autonomy of 31 second-year medical students. Participants were divided into a control group (n=15) receiving conventional instruction and an experimental group (n=16) receiving Dalton Plan-based instruction, which emphasized independent reading assignments with tailored teacher guidance. A mixed-methods approach collected quantitative data (reading tests, Autonomous Learning Scale) and qualitative data (thematic analysis of student self-reports). Results indicated that Dalton Plan-based instruction significantly enhanced learner autonomy; however, its effect on reading test scores was not statistically significant. Thematic analysis of self-reports revealed a developmental trajectory from initial challenges—such as time management and vocabulary inadequacy—to later progress in reading interest, strategy use, and persistence. These findings not only provide pedagogical insights for innovating reading instruction in Chinese EFL (English as foreign language) contexts but also highlight the complex relationship between fostering autonomy and achieving measurable gains in reading proficiency.
Qi, T., Albakri, T. S. M. A., & Mokhtar, M. M. (2025). From Problems to Progress: Evaluating Dalton Plan-Based Instruction in Chinese College English Reading. Arab World English Journal, 16(4):239-256
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Tianxiu Qi is a lecturer at the School of Foreign Languages, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in TESL in Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. Her research focuses on studies on Instruction and Educational Pedagogy in reading in EFL/ESL field. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5724-4677
Dr.Intan Safinas Mohd Ariff Albakri is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Languages and Communication, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. Her areas of specialization are Course and Syllabus Design, Educational Technology, Materials Development in ELT and Teacher cognition. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5499-1709
Dr. Mazlin Mohamed Mokhtar is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Languages and Communication, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. Her main research interests lie in the areas of Education, TESL, Sociolinguistics, and ICT in Education.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8231-2678