Volume 37, No. 1
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Item The Role of Vocabulary Knowledge, Morphological Awareness, and Working Memory in Reading Comprehension(University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center, 2025-01-20) Teng, Mark Feng; Cui, YachongA growing number of studies have focused on uncovering linguistic and cognitive skills predictive of reading comprehension. Vocabulary knowledge (VK) and morphological awareness (MA) are two important linguistic variables for reading comprehension. In contrast, working memory (WM) is an essential cognitive variable for reading comprehension. The current study mainly aims to examine the role of VK, MA, and WM in English as a foreign language (EFL) reading comprehension. A total of 396 learners in a foreign language context took a TOEIC reading test, a battery of three MA tests, two VK tests, and two WM tests. We found that (a) the Pearson correlation coefficients obtained for the variables of VK, MA, WM, and EFL reading comprehension were all positive and significant; and (b) the structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that VK was a stronger predictor than MA of EFL reading performance. Relevant implications are discussed based on the results.Item Examining the relationship between self-regulated learning strategies and reading comprehension in Chinese and English among primary school students in mainland China: An extension of Tse, Lin, & Ng (2022)(University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center, 2025-01-20) Qi, Ji; Reynolds, Barry Lee; Bai, XiaokeThis extension study investigates the relationship between self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies and first language (L1) Chinese and second language (L2) English reading test performance among 190 primary six students in mainland China, building upon the findings by Tse et al. (2022). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the acceptable construct validity of the SRL strategy use questionnaire used by Tse et al. (2022). Structural equation modeling was then conducted to examine the direct relationships between variables. The results reveal a direct and positive relationship between L1 Chinese planning strategies and L2 English planning strategies, as well as between L1 Chinese monitoring strategies and L2 English monitoring strategies. Furthermore, L1 Chinese SRL strategies directly and positively predicted L1 Chinese reading test performance, while L2 English SRL strategies had a direct and positive effect on L2 English reading test performance. However, L1 Chinese SRL strategies did not have a significant predictive effect on L2 English reading test performance. Additionally, the performance on the L1 Chinese reading test had no significant effect on L2 English reading test performance. These findings underscore the importance of integrating L1 Chinese and L2 English curricula in mainland China and fostering communication and collaboration between L1 Chinese and L2 English teachers. Additionally, the study suggests several directions for further research in this area.Item Encouraging EFL Students’ Extensive Reading Through LMS-Based Reading Logs(University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center, 2025-01-08) Lien, Cao Thi XuanThis research explores the perspectives of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students about using Learning Management System (LMS)-based reading logs as a measure to encourage extensive reading in the digital age. An online questionnaire was administered to 125 third-year English majors at a public university in central Vietnam to examine their attitudes, preferences, and perceptions of benefits as well as challenges associated with LMS-based reading logs. The findings show that most students had positive attitudes toward LMS-based reading logs, emphasizing benefits like improving their reading skills, enhancing positive reading habits, enhancing self-study skills, and increasing their learning motivation. However, students faced several challenges when making LMS-based reading logs, including time constraints, workload, lack of cognitive skills for reflection, self-discipline issues, and insufficient teacher support and feedback. These problems can suggest some further improvements to increase the effectiveness of applying this kind of activity in EFL reading courses.Item Perceptions of Extensive Reading Practitioners in Four Asian Countries(University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center, 2025-01-08) Waring, Rob; Puripunyavanich, MintraThis study reports the perceptions and understanding of extensive reading (ER) of 259 ER practitioners in Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, and Vietnam. The majority of participants understood the core principles of ER, namely (a) the fluent reading of (b) a lot of (c) easy texts. However, about 25% of the participants in Thailand, Mongolia, and Vietnam did not understand that the texts need to be easy and read fluently. Despite all the participants being self-declared ER practitioners, a large number of participants in Mongolia, Thailand and Vietnam often reported the desire for intensive reading practices in their ER classes. This suggests more training on ER is necessary. Participants highly rated all questions regarding the need for more ER training, showing that even the more experienced ER practitioners still need assistance.