The general purpose of the current study was to clarify the role and estimate the correlation of specific cognitive abilities with Second Language (L2) reading achievement of English Foreign Language (EFL) university students. To this aim the relationship between fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence, and speed of processing with second language reading comprehension as three different kinds of tests were examined to predict participants’ reading achievement. In this regard McGrew (1993) stated that Reading Comprehension in the first language has cognitive correlate with fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence, and speed of processing. However, since there are not ample available studies on the cognitive correlates of reading comprehension in a second language, we put our attention on the role of cognitive abilities of individuals to investigate second language reading …show more content…
In general, research shows that studies on second language acquisition of individual differences has typically dealt with affective and sociocultural factors rather than cognitive abilities consequently, there are still gaps in reading especially to the second/foreign language.
In a study Mikulecky, (2008) stated that the written information motivates prior knowledge, and the prior knowledge, sequentially, activates expectations about what is in the text. This interactive, unconscious process continues till the comprehension has occurred. Readers’ first language and mental schemata determine noticing in a text and applying the mental schemata to that information, however, second language readers’ mental schemata are built on the basis of their first language and cultural background. Therefore, what second-language readers notice in the text and how they interpret it, will differ as a result of differing prospects about language structure and cultural
The Woodcock Johnson – Fourth Edition (WJ-IV) was administered in order to obtain an estimate of Isaac’s current level of cognitive functioning. Intelligence tests are intended to assess the student’s ability in acquired skills and specific knowledge, problem-solving capabilities, and memory. The scores obtained on the WJ IV can provide an estimate of the student’s performance in school. Nevertheless, these tests do not measure Isaacs’s interest in creativity, curiosity, perseverance, and motivation. The WJIV yields the students cognitive ability information from six clusters: General Intellectual Ability (GIA), Gf-Gc Composite, Comprehension-Knowledge (Gc), Fluid Reasoning (Gf), Short-Term Working Memory (Gwm) and Cognitive Efficiency.
1.1 Background of the Study Since the publication of book entitled Frames of Mind by Howard Gardner in 1983, the concept of Multiple Intelligences (MI) Theory brings the new horizon in Psychology and Education. The traditional view of intelligence was best conceptualized as a single, general capacity for conceptualization and problem solving which simply measured by the IQ (Intelligence Quotient) test. In addition, Spearman (1904) as cited in Bandarabbasi, & Karbalaei (2013) claimed that there is a relationship between intelligence and a variety of intellectual performance. He believed that people who perform well on intelligence tests also perform well on other intellectual tasks, such as vocabulary, mathematical, and spatial abilities. Intelligence
The type of language used in a book can influence a person’s interest in a book but it is up to the reader to decide if they want to read knowing the type of language used. It is not fair for students to not have the ability to read a book just because someone else
Living in front of the Cue’s America prides itself as being a literate country, with public schools being bountiful an easily accessed. As with most Americans I held myself in high regards in believing that I was literate. I could read, I was able to write, and able to verbally communicate with those around me from many different cultures. However I found that I was living in front of the three cues of syntactic, semantics, and graph phonemic, instead of living behind it. My literacy had no real direction and lacking a road map to follow.
Throughout the reading, Anzaldúa constantly switched between the Spanish and English language. I believe the switching or languages has a decoding effect on people. The author wants her audience to be more engaged. If the reader doesn’t understand the language, they are more likely to either research or use the surrounding text to understand what Anzaldúa is talking
Google.com or Zombie.com It has been questioned by some that the internet and entities such as Google could be making the general population stupid. This subject is being deeply explored in Nicholas Carr’s “Is Google Making Us Stupid.” In this cultural analysis Carr suggests that Google is remapping the way people think, the way people read, and the way in which we collect information. These theories may have some truths to them but exploring those truths for a deeper meaning can open you up to the idea that perhaps people’s minds are just going through an upgrade not being sucked out in a technological zombie outbreak.
On an informal reading inventory, Rose exhibited instructional decoding abilities slightly below the second-grade
Author Amy Tan uses different variations of English to make her essay “The Opposites of Fate, Mother Tongue “easier to read, more relevant, and understandable (2003, p. 20-23). Writers tend to elaborate more when they know their audiences. When they do not, they use more factual information and formal words and methods to get their points across. This is more the case when trying to reach those in their profession, and not the case with their families, and friends. Using blended English will make writing easier to read, comprehend, and reach a broader audience.
The Argument on Reading Reading has at all times and in all ages been a great source of knowledge. It widens the horizon of thinking. It plays a key role to academic success. The ability to read is highly valued and very important for social and economic advancement.
Intelligence comes in a wide variety; it’s not only measured by one’s knowledge of books and performance in the classroom, but when it comes to measuring the intelligence of an individual you will always have controversial responses. Academic Intelligence is clearly not seen through Gerald Graff and Mark Rose’s essays. In Gerald Graff’s work entitled, “Hidden Intelligence”, he covers the points on his personal opinion on how intelligence is not found in people who are “book smart”, but also in those who are “street smart”. Similar to Graff’s essay, Mark Rose touches upon the idea that people who spend more of their time in a more academic environment are not as intelligent as those who don’t. Although both Graff and Rose touch upon similar ideas with minimal differences, they both view each of the problems with different perspectives by creating solutions to their
The early years of literacy are probably the most important ones of a child’s education. According to Copple and Bredekamp there has been compelling evidence that has shown the significant of children’s alphabet knowledge as well as their phonological awareness. This evidence shows that the awareness of both are momentous predictors in regards to children’s reading and writing in later years. These years are the foundation upon which the child grows and develops strong reading skills. Without this foundation firmly in place a child’s reading proficiency is already behind once they enter Kindergarten.
The United States is a place of freedom. We are a mixing pot that unifies as one. Many religions, cultures, and languages make their home in the Unites States. Many foreigners see the U.S. as an opportunity to seek better lives and education, but when it comes to foreigners and native-born non-English speakers that do not yet know English, it becomes a little more difficult to go about an average day let alone make a better future. Children in school often become English Language Learners, or ELL, to assimilate to the American standards.
However, the book lacks certain aspects that alter certain scene, characters, and certain moods. The changing of the language changes the book. An English speaking reader that lives in the U. S has a different perception than a Spanish speaking person that lives in Mexico over a bilingual speaker that lives in the U.S. To a reader that lives in Mexico, the reader would see the changes that Tita undergoes as normal. They see the power Mama Elena has as normal and see Pedro’s vulnerability as a sign of weak men. They may understand the education each person has but the differences in dialect and the characters small details.
The students will develop pride in themselves and their heritage. Thus, the psychological and cognitive aspects involved in learning of two or more languages in an educational setting, the challenges of linguistic planning and the translation of information across languages is what we shall discuss elaborately in subsequent sections. I shall attempt to provide on the one hand an overview of L1 learning, and on the other hand some ways in which this relates to L2 learning in a
Texts are polysemic—they have multiple and varied meanings. However this semantic instability does not mean that readers can make a text mean whatever they wish it to mean. Meaning is derived from the codes, conversations and genres of the text and it’s social, cultural, historical and ideological contexts—which can work together to convey a preferred reading of the text.” (Given, 2008) Concerning the pros and cons of omitting field research and focussing primarily on textual analysis; this will lend this paper’s area of research a high level of academic validity.