METHODS AND TECHNIQUES TO TEACH READING IN ENGLISH TO LIBYAN CHILDREN AMNA MOHAMED ALI MELAD. A dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the

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1 METHODS AND TECHNIQUES TO TEACH READING IN ENGLISH TO LIBYAN CHILDREN AMNA MOHAMED ALI MELAD A dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Education (TESL) Faculty of Education Universiti Teknologi Malaysia FEBRUARY 2010

2 ii I declare that this thesis dissertation entitled Methods and Techniques to Teach Reading in English to Libyan Children is the result of my own research except as cited in the references. The thesis has not been accepted for any degree and is not concurrently submitted in candidature of any other degree. Signature:... Name : Amna Mohamed Ali Melad Date : February, 2011

3 iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful My gratitude goes to my supervisor, Prof. Madya Dr. Salbiah bt. Seliman for her guidance and counseling to me all along the working on my thesis. Thank you very much. I also thank my parents who paved the way for me to learn and all my family members who encouraged me to pursue my studies abroad. To my husband and my two children, I present the fruit of my effort. To all of those people who helped me, thank you very much for your support and encouragement.

4 iv ABSTRACT Since reading in English is a very important skill, the learners need to read and have considerable knowledge pertaining to the current developments in the field of learning. It gets more difficult with foreign learners especially the young ones. Parents and teachers should have remarkable methods in teaching the skills of reading in English, This study searched the methods and techniques used by the Libyan teachers and parents to teach reading in English to children. In addition to that, the researcher investigated the learners views about those methods and techniques. The views of teachers and parents on the methods they used are also included. The third objective of the study was to uncover the obstacles confronted by younger learners when reading in English. The primary pupils of the Libyan school, their parents, and their teacher were the respondents of this research. There were three instruments used in this study: an observation list, a questionnaire, and interview questions. The data collected from the participants were analysed qualitatively. The findings took the form of descriptions, described as values. The findings are hoped to be used, adopted and adapted for further improvement in the process of learning and teaching of English as a foreign language.

5 v ABSTRAK Kerana membaca dalam Bahasa Inggeris ialah kemahiran yang sangat penting, pelajarpelajar harus membaca dan mempunyai pengetahuan yang cukup berkaitan dengan pembacaan dalam bidang pembelajaran. Ianya menjadi semakin sukar dengan pelajar asing terutama sekali pelajar yang masih muda. Para ibubapa dan para guru mata pelajaran Bahasa Inggeris tentunya memiliki banyak kaedah yang efektif dalam mengajar kemahiran membaca dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Kajian ini mencari kaedah yang digunakan oleh para guru dan para ibubapa dari Libya untuk mengajar membaca dalam Bahasa Inggeris kepada anak-anak. Selain itu, pengkaji telah menyiasat pendapat responden mengenai kaedah yang digunakan. Tujuan ketiga ialah untuk mengungkap hambatan-hambatan yang telah dihadapi oleh murid-murid yang masih kanak-kanak dalam pengalaman mereka belajar membaca dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Pendapat guru dan ibu bapa juga telah dimasukikan. Murid sekolah rendah dari sekolah Libya di Kuala Lumpur, ibubapa mereka, dan guru telah menjadi responden dalam kajian ini. Ada tiga instrumen yang digunakan dalam kajian ini: senarai pemerhatian, sebuah soalselidik, dan senarai soalan wawancara. Data yang dikumpul dari para peserta dianalisis secara kualitatif. Hasil kajian dipersembahkan dalam bentuk diskripsi dan digambarkan sebagai nilai-nilai. Hasil kajian ini diharapkan akan digunakan, diadopsi dan diadaptasi untuk perbaikan lebih lanjut dalam proses pembelajaran dan pengajaran membaca dalam Bahasa Inggeris sebagai bahasa asing.

6 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT ABSTRAK ii iii iv v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS LIST OF APPENDICES vi-x xi xii xiii xiv CHAPTER TITLE PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION Background of the study Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Study Objectives of the Study 7

7 vii 1.5 Research Questions Significance of the Study Scope of the Study 10 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Importance of reading Brief Overview of Language Teaching Methodology The Grammar Translation Method (GTM) The Direct Method (DM) The Communicative Approach (CA) Techniques, Methods and Approaches Methods and Techniques of Teaching Reading to Children Phonics Method or Technique Whole Word Method or Technique Language Experience Approach or Technique Context Support Method or Technique Look and say Method or Technique Other Techniques of Teaching Reading to Children The Process of Reading and its Connection to Teaching Methods and Techniques 30

8 viii Bottom-up and Top-down Processing and Teaching Reading Schema Theory and Techniques of Teaching Reading Frameworks to Scaffold Reading as a Technique of Teaching Reading Strategies of Teaching Reading Types of Teaching Reading Skills Principles of Teaching Reading to Children Related Research 49 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Introduction Research design Respondents of the Study Sampling design Sampling Design for Pupils Sampling Design for the Teachers Sampling Design for Parents Research Instruments Used Observation Questionnaire Interview 58

9 ix 3.6 Research Procedure Preliminary study Preparation of the Instruments Piloting the Instruments Revising the Instruments The Actual Study Data Collection Data Analysis 65 4 RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS Introduction Methods and Techniques Used The Teacher The Parents The Pupils The Views of the Teacher, the Parents and the Learners on the Methods and Techniques Used The Teacher s Views The Parents Views The Learners Views The Obstacles Faced by Learners When They Read The Teacher 79

10 x The Parents The Pupils Discussion of the Research Findings 84 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Conclusions Pedagogical Implications Limitations Recommendations Recommendations Based on the Findings Recommendations for Future Research 98 REFERENCES Appendices

11 xi LIST OF TABLES TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE 4.1 The Methods and Techniques Used to Teach Reading in English Views on the Methods and Techniques Obstacles Faced by Learners in Reading in English 79

12 xii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE 2.1 The correlation of Approaches, Methods and Techniques Finocchiaro s (1989) Schema Theory 35

13 xiii LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS CA DM EFL ESL ERP Communicative Approach Direct Method English as a foreign language English as second language Extensive reading programme GTM Grammar Translation Method IQs L1 L2 RR Measurements of a person s intelligence First language Second language Reading recovery

14 xiv LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX TITLE PAGE A List of factors observed 109 B Interview with the Teacher 110 C Interview Questions (To the Pupils) 112 D1 Questionnaire 2 (To the Parents) 114 D2 Questionnaire 2 (To the Parents - Translated) 118 E The Pupils Coded Responses to the Interview Questions 121 F The Teachers Responses to the Interview Questions 123