Previewing refers to the activity in which previews are provided prior to reading to equip readers with background knowledge essential for understanding the subsequent reading selections. Previews are introductory materials characterized by such information as thought-provoking questions, description of characters, setting, and plot up to the point of climax, directions for reading, and definitions of difficult vocabulary. In the current study, 68 EFL students read a difficult story either with or without the previewing treatment provided in advance. Immediately afterwards, all of them took a multiple-choice posttest that assessed their comprehension of the textual ideas. Independent t-tests performed on the results revealed that the previewing treatment significantly improved students’ overall comprehension and comprehension at different levels. Furthermore, students generally embraced positive feelings towards the previewing treatment. In light of these findings, two pedagogical implications are then proposed.
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ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION PREVIEW AND PREVIEWING TREATMENT THEORETICAL GROUNDS PREVIOUS STUDIES Effects of Previewing on L1 Readers’ Comprehension of Narrative Texts Effects of Previewing on L1 Readers’ Comprehension of Expository Texts Effects of Previewing on EFL Readers THE CURRENT STUDY Participants Experimental Materials Procedure Data Analysis RESULTS Analysis of the Comprehension Test Attitude Questionnaires The Open-Ended Question DISCUSSION The Comprehension Test Attitude Questionnaires The Open-Ended Question CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS THE AUTHOR REFERENCES Appendix A – The Preview
The goals of Asia TEFL are to promote scholarship, disseminate information, and facilitate cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with the teaching and learning of English in Asia. In order to accomplish this, Asia TEFL will pursue the following goals:
1. To link ELT professionals in joint research on issues and concerns regarding English teaching and learning in the Asian context.
2. To publish an academic journal, The Asia TEFL Journal, as an internationally recognized journal in the field of English language teaching.
3. To host conferences and seminars addressing important issues concerning ELT in Asia.
4. To develop proficiency guidelines and assessment methods designed for the needs of the Asian context.
5. To develop programs for Asian learners and teachers of English to build their English language proficiency and cultural understanding and provide them with the skills required to be efficient English teaching professionals.