Reading comprehension of subject-specific texts in a foreign language : the role of background knowledge

Umek, Alenka (author)

This study investigates the patterns used by economics and business students in reading comprehension (RC) of subject-specific texts in a foreign language (FL), particularly in relation to their use of background knowledge (BK). The think-aloud (TA) method was used and the data were derived from readers’ verbal protocols. The coding of protocols yielded seventeen coding categories. The results were analysed and compared between two groups: one with high and one with low knowledge as determined by a prior BK assessment. The coding data were linked to the reading comprehension test results and typical patterns were established. Readers with high BK used more correct paraphrasing, inferencing, elaboration, and evaluation. In contrast, readers with low BK took more of a local approach to reading by focusing more on individual words. They frequently used English in their Slovene think-alouds, produced wrong and approximate paraphrases, and signalled lack of understanding. The article closes by examining implications for FL reading instruction and developing disciplinary literacy.

• Language: English
• Keywords: tuji jeziki, knowledge, professional education
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: EF - School of Economics and Business
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: Str. 105-124
• Numbering: Letn. 26, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-117706
• UDC: 81\'24
• ISSN on article: 1318-5160
• DOI: 10.4312/as.26.2.105-124
• COBISS.SI-ID: 20824067
• Publication date in RUL: 22.07.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Andragoška spoznanja
• Shortened title: AS. Andrag. spozn.
• Publisher: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Gospodarski vestnik, Filozofska fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1318-5160
• COBISS.SI-ID: 45586176

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.
• Licensing start date: 22.07.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Bralno razumevanje strokovnih besedil v tujem jeziku : vloga strokovnega predznanja

Abstract

Študija obravnava vzorce, ki jih študenti ekonomskih in poslovnih ved uporabljajo v procesu bralnega razumevanja strokovnih besedil v tujem jeziku, zlasti v povezavi z rabo strokovnega predznanja. Uporabili smo metodo glasnega razmišljanja ob branju. Bralne protokole smo kodirali in določili 17 kodirnih kategorij. Rezultate smo primerjali med dvema skupinama bralcev z različnim predznanjem, ki smo ju določili s testom strokovnega predznanja. Podatke smo povezali z rezultati testa bralnega razumevanja in poiskali ključne vzorce. Bralci z boljšim strokovnim predznanjem so pogosteje uporabili pravilno parafraziranje, sklepanje, pojasnjevanje in vrednotenje. Na drugi strani pa so bralci s šibkejšim strokovnim predznanjem pogosteje uporabili lokalni pristop k branju, s tem da so se bolj osredinili na posamezne besede. Pri tem so med rabo slovenskega jezika vključevali angleške izraze ter nepravilne ali približne parafraze. Pogosteje so tudi opozorili, da prebranega ne razumejo. Na podlagi izsledkov sklenemo študijo z nekaj napotki za poučevanje bralnega razumevanja v tujem jeziku in razvijanje disciplinarne pismenosti.

• Keywords: tuji jeziki, znanje, strokovna izobrazba