12
sequenced in an alphabetical order
.
In the present study, it refers to paper dictionaries
of the students’ own choice
.
Reading Comprehension
:
An activity in which a reader reads a passage to extract and
construct meaning (White, 2012)
.
This process involves “the interaction between the
reader and the text, – how the reader is deciphering the writing on the page, what he
or she is thinking about while reading, and how the reader is monitoring his or her
reading” (McKay, 2006, p
.
224 )
.
Vocabulary retention
:
The kind of learning where vocabulary is picked-up during
normal L2 learning tasks either from context or after looking up the unknown word in
a dictionary
.
Retention could be short-term (immediate) or long-term (delayed)
.
In the
present study, it refers to long-term vocabulary retention after consulting the
dictionary
.
Monitoring software
:
A computer program designed to monitor and record all what is
being done on a computer
.
It works like a surveillance camera, tracking and recording
all the activity anybody does on a computer, and storing this in log files in a secure
area for later review
.
Log file
:
A full written record of all the activity a person does on a computer during a
period of time
.
13
9
.
Structure of the Thesis
The present study is composed of five chapters
:
Chapter 1 first describes the
process of reading and then explores the role of vocabulary knowledge in reading
comprehension
.
Relevant literature on the lexicography and development of
monolingual learner dictionaries is also presented since they are one of the two
dictionary types used in this study
.
The literature then opens out into a wider context
of pedagogy; in particular, the controversy over dictionary usage and the debate on
whether to use monolingual or bilingual dictionaries in L2 learning
.
Chapter 2 first explains how the dictionary user, the lexicographer, and the
language interact so that a new dictionary is born. Then, an important section of this
chapter is the detailed description of the process involved in dictionary use and
effective meaning retrieval. The types of dictionary use research are outlined and a
general review of the beginnings of this field of enquiry is presented. Later in this
chapter, findings of previous dictionary use studies in the areas that are pertinent to
and addressed in the present study are reviewed, with a specific focus on the studies
of dictionary use while reading
.
Chapter 3 deals with electronic dictionaries, their typology
,
and the motivation
behind using them
.
An important part of this section is the review of existing research
on computerized dictionaries, among them CD-ROM dictionaries, as they are the
main concern of the present study
.
This chapter finally reviews those studies of
14
dictionary use which rather compared electronic dictionaries to ordinary ones
regarding their effects on language learning
.
Information about the sample involved in the study, data gathering tools,
research strategy and the procedures followed to meet the research objectives are set
out in Chapter 4
.
The results from the data analysis as well as a few corresponding
implications for teaching EFL are presented and discussed in Chapter 5
.
Summary of
the study and recommendations for future research are then presented in the General
Conclusion section
.
This section also highlights some methodological issues and
limitations that impacted the design of the study
.
Finally, the testing instruments
employed in the study are given in the appendices
.
15
Chapter One
Reading, Vocabulary, and Dictionaries
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 16
1.1. What is Reading Comprehension? .................................................................... 16
1.2. The Nature of Reading Comprehension ............................................................ 17
1.3. The Role of Vocabulary in Reading Comprehension ....................................... 19
1.4. Dictionaries and Foreign Language Reading Comprehension ......................... 22
1.4.1. Development of English Monolingual Learner’s Dictionaries ...................... 22
1.4.2 Controversy over Using Dictionaries in Language Learning ......................... 26
1.4.3. Debates on What Type of Dictionary to Use in L2 Learning ........................ 32
Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 39
16
Chapter One
Reading, Vocabulary, and Dictionaries
Introduction
As the present study involves reading, vocabulary, and dictionaries, the focus
of this first chapter will be to provide an overview of each. Thus, it will first describe
the process of reading and then will examine the role of vocabulary in reading
comprehension
.
Relevant literature on the lexicography and development of
monolingual learner dictionaries will also be presented since they are the main type of
dictionaries used in this study
.
The literature will then open out into a wider context
of pedagogy; in particular, the controversy over dictionary usage and the debate on
whether to use monolingual or bilingual dictionaries in L2 learning
.
1
.
1
.
What is Reading Comprehension?
Reading comprehension is an activity in which a reader reads a passage to
extract and construct meaning (White, 2012)
.
This process involves “the interaction
between the reader and the text, – how the reader is deciphering the writing on the
page, what he or she is thinking about while reading, and how the reader is
monitoring his or her reading” (McKay, 2006, p
.
224 )
.
Dostları ilə paylaş: |