Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 15. Number 2, June 2024                                             Pp.19-39

The Impact of Reading on the Development of Language Production of Young Learners at Slovak Primary Schools


Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities,
University of Žilina in Žilina, Slovakia

Corresponding author: rita.rafajlovicova@fhv.uniza.sk

Institute of English and American Studies, Faculty of Arts,
University of Prešov in Prešov, Slovakia

Abstract:

Early foreign language learning in Slovakia is still inadequate, especially at the lower secondary level. Therefore, it is essential to gather data that can help improve the educational process. This study aims to determine the impact of systematic extensive reading and production-based training on the language production of young learners in two primary schools in Prešov, Slovakia. The language performance of the groups under investigation was evaluated through written and oral assessments. This was done to determine the effect of reading classes on the language production of young learners, as well as to explore the effects of enhanced text comprehension on the productive language skills of young EFL learners. Computer programs were used for experiment evaluation and statistical analysis to verify the impact of reading programs and teaching modules on pupils’ performance. Additionally, the individual productive skills of the learners were analyzed. The study results revealed that the experimental group, which was involved in an extensive reading program, performed significantly better in both written and oral production than the control group. This indicates that the application of reading programs and teaching modules in the selected schools had a considerable impact on the learners’ performance.
Keywords:  accuracy, extensive reading, oral language production, fluency, written language production, young learners

Cite as:

Rafajlovičová, R., & Cimermanová, I. (2024). The Impact of Reading on the Development of Language Production of Young Learners at Slovak Primary Schools. Arab World English Journal, 15(2): 19-39.

References:

Aydın, G. & Bağcı Ayrancı, B.(2018). Reading Preferences of Middle School Students. In World

          Journal of Education, 8(2),127-140. http://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v8n2p127

Akbar, F. (2014). The role of reading in improving speaking skills in the context of teaching

English as a foreign language. International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies, 2 (4), 92-98.  https://eltsjournal.org/archive

Babiaková, S., & Kasáčová, B. (2020). Reading preferences of younger learners in Slovak-Czech-

Polish comparison.  In The New Educational Review, 61, (3),  38-50

Brophy, J., & Good, T. (1970). Teacher-child dyadic interaction: A manual for coding classroom  behavior.
Journal of School Psychology, 8, 131-138.

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4405(70)90032-4

Brumfit, Ch. (1982). Problems in Principles in English Teaching. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

Cameron, L. (2001). Teaching languages to young children. Cambridge University Press.

 https://archive.org/details/secondlanguageac00rode

Clark, S.L. (2022). The Role of L1 Literacy in L2 Reading Development, (Unpublished Doctoral dissertation).
Minnesota State University, Moorhead. Available at  https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/709

Clarke, M.A. (1980). The short circuit hypothesis of ESL reading, or when language

Competence interferes with reading performance. Modern Language Journal, 64 (2),

203-209.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4781.1980.tb05186.x

Celce-Murcia, M. (2001). Teaching English as a Second or  Foreign Language.  Heinle & Heinle.

Cliff, P. (2007). Cambridge Young Learners English Tests.  Oxford University Press.

Coady, J. (1979). A psycholinguistic model of the ESL reader. In R. Mackay, B. Barkman &

  1.   Jordan (Eds.), Reading in a Second Language (pp.5-12). Newbury House publisher.

Chang, C. Y. (2016). Two decades of research in L2 peer review. Journal of writing research,

   8 (1), 81-117. https://doi.org/10.17239/jowr-2016.08.01.03

Corbin, J., & Straus, A. (2014). Basics of quantitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing
grounded theory
.  Sage Publications.     https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452230153

Francis.WS., Gurolla, B., & Martínez, M. (2022). Comprehension exposure to words in sentence

contexts impact spoken word production. Memory and Cognition, 50,  192–215,
DOI: 10.3758/s13421-021-   01214-w

Garner, B. (Ed). (2000). Focus on Basics. NCSALL Occasional Paper ( Collected Works –

Serials). 4/A. Boston  https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED451397.pdf

Geva, E., & Ramírez, G. (2015). Focus on reading. Oxford University Press.

Gowri, J., K. (2018). Application of Theories, Techniques, Methods, and Approaches to

Develop Second Language Skills – A Study Based on Transition from Schooling to

College. International Journal of Engineering and Technology (IJET),7(3), 210-215.

http://doi.org/10.1449/ijet.v7i3.6.14972

Grabe, W.(1991). Current Developments in Second Language  Reading Research. TESOL

 Quarterly,  25(3), 375-406. https://doi.org./10.2307/3586977

Guo, M., & Wang, J. (2013). Affective factors in Oral English Teaching and Learning. Higher

 Education in Social Science, 5(3), 57- 61.

http://doi.org/10.3968/j.hess.1927024020130503.2956

Hedge T. (2000). Teaching and Learning in the Language classroom. Oxford University Press.

Higgs, T. V., & Clifford, R. (1982). The push towards communication. In: T. V. Higgs, (ed.)

Curriculum, competence, and the foreign language teacher ( pp.57-79). Lincolnwood

National Textbook Company.

Hughes, R. (2011). Teaching and Researching Speaking. Pearson Education.

Hundarenko, O., Leláková, E., & Bačová, B. (2022). Sustainability of Foreign Language

Education at a Slovak University during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic. Arab World

 English  Journal (AWEJ) 2nd Special Issue on Covid-19 Challenges (2) 48 -63. https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/covid2.4

Jolly, D. (1978). The establishment of a self-access scheme for intensive reading.  Presented at British
Council Colloquium on Reading, Paris, October 1978. In P.L. Carrell, J. Devine, &  D.E. Eskey (Eds.),  Interactive
approaches to second language reading
(pp.260-278). Cambridge University Press.

Krashen, S. D., & Terrell, T. (1983). The natural approach: Language acquisition in the classroom. Englewood Cliffs,
NJ: Alemany Press.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263100005659

Kumar, S., Barnwal, S., Shanker, U., & Tiwary, S. (2020). Analyzing Effect of Repeated Reading

on  Oral Fluency and Narrative Production for Computer-Assisted Language Learning.

arXiv: Computation and Language. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2006.14320

Larsen-Freeman, D. (2006). The emergence of complexity, fluency, and accuracy in the oral

and written production of five Chinese learners of English.  Applied Linguistics, 27 (4), 590-619.
https://doi.org.10.1093/applin/aml029

Lightbown, P. M., &  Spada, N. (1999). How Languages are Learned. Oxford University Press.

Lodico, M.G., Spaulding, D.T., & Voegtle, K.H. (2006). Methods in education research: From

theory to practice. John Wiley & Sons. Inc.

Lukáč, E. (2005). Prínos učiteľov z obdobia reformného pedagogického hnutia pre tvorbu slovenských učebníc.
In F. Hýbl (Ed.), Učitelé-autoři učebnic a dětské literatury (pp.155-167). Muzeum Komenského, Přerov.

Mangen, A. et al. (2015). Handwriting versus keyboard writing: Effect on word recall. Journal

 Of Writing Research, 7 (2), 227-247.https://doi.org/10.17239/jowr-2015.07.02.1

Nakanishi, T. (2014). A Meta-analysis of Extensive Reading Research. TESOL Quarterly, 49

(1),  6-37. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.157

Omidbakhsh, A. (2021). Storytelling and Story Reading Impacts on Pre-intermediate English

Language Learners’ Oral Language Production and Comprehension. International Letters of

 Social and Humanistic Sciences, 74, 1-9. doi: 10.22054/ILT.2021.61029.598

Pierce, L. V.  & O’Malley, J.M. (1992). Performance and portfolio assessment for language

   Minority students. Washington, DC: National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education.

Rea-Dickins, P., & Rixon, S. (1997). The assessment of young learners of English as a foreign

language. In C. Clapham & D. Carson (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of language and education

  (7):  Language testing and assessment ( pp. 58-76). Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Rea-Dickins, P. (2000). Assessment in early years of language learning contexts.  Language

  Testing 17 (2), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.1177/026553220001700201

Shaaban, K. (2005). Assessment of Young Learners. English Teaching Forum online, 43 (1),

34-40.https://americanenglish.state.gov/forum

Sreena, S., & Ilankumaran, M. (2018). Developing Productive Skills Through Receptive  Skills

– A Cognitive Approach. International Journal of Engineering & Technology 7(4), 669-673
.  http://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.36.24220

Straková, Z., & Cimermanová, I. (2012). Reading programs for young learners: from principles

to practice. In T. Pattison (Ed.), IATEFL 2011 Brighton Conference Selections (pp.203-

205). Canterbury, University of Kent.

Straková, Z., Cimermanová, I., Rafajlovičová, R., & Sepešiová, M. (2017). Input based
  development of productive language Skills.  Tribun EU, s.r.o.

Unsworth, S. (2016). Quantity and quality of language input in bilingual language development.

In E. Nicoladis & S. Montanari (Eds.), Bilingualism across the lifespan: Factors moderating

 language proficiency (pp. 103–121). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14939-007

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Reddit
Email
StumbleUpon
Digg

Prof. Ivana Cimermanová, PhD.  is the Vice-Rector for Educational Affairs of the University of Prešov, Slovakia. She teaches at the Faculty of Arts at this university. Her research interests include the methodology of teaching English as a foreign language, especially in using technologies in language teaching. She is the author of many articles, studies, and textbooks.
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8063-8949

 Dr. Rita Rafajlovičová, PhD. is an Associate Professor at the Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, University of Žilina, Slovakia. She has authored multiple university coursebooks and articles on English grammar, language testing, and assessment. Her research interests lie in applied linguistics across various research projects.
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7575-3774