Increasing Reading Speed and Comprehension of EFL Undergraduate Students at a Saudi Arabian University Using Speed Increasing Software

Authors

  • Salahud D. Abdul-Rab King Khalid University
  • Mohammed A. Alward King Khalid University
  • Samsiah Abdul-Hamid Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1203.13

Keywords:

speed reading, 7 speed reading program, reading comprehension, reading skill, EFL

Abstract

Students’ reading speed in the English Department at a Saudi University is low, which, in turn, slows down their general proficiency in English. This research aims to show how and to what degree using a reading speed increasing software (the ‘7 Speed Reading’ program) could be a decisive factor in upgrading the reading speed of EFL-major students of KKU while maintaining their former level of comprehension. This study uses a pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design. The study sample comprised two groups (a control group and a test group), each consisting of 30 students from the third year of the EFL undergraduate program. The methodology incorporates comprehension tests to analyse the sample for reading speed and comprehension toward the study’s start. Training in increasing reading speed was extended to the test group students using the ‘7 Speed Reading’ software. Towards the end of the training, both the groups were tested again for reading speed and comprehension. The study illustrated essential outcomes in the form of increased reading speed and better comprehension.

Author Biographies

Salahud D. Abdul-Rab, King Khalid University

Department of English, Faculty of Languages and Translation

Mohammed A. Alward, King Khalid University

Department of English, Faculty of Languages and Translation

Samsiah Abdul-Hamid, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Center for Foundation and Continuing Education

References

Al Udaini, A. A. (2011). The effect of a computerized program on developing 9th graders’ reading comprehension skills and their attitudes towards reading in Palestine. The Islamic University, Gaza.

Alonzo, J., Basaraba, D., Tindal, G., & Carriveau, R. S. (2009). They read, but how well do they understand? An empirical look at the nuances of measuring reading comprehension. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 35(1), 34–44.

Averill, L. A., & Mueller, A. D. (1928). The effect of practice on the improvement of silent reading in adults. The Journal of Educational Research, 17(2), 125–129.

Baker, R. D. (2010). Comparing the readability of text displays on paper, e-book readers, and small screen devices. PsycINFO, 1–50. Retrieved April 21, 2021 from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2011-99030-010&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Beale, A. M., & Mullan, P. (2008). Speed Reading. Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Bell, T. (2001). Extensive reading: speed and comprehension. The Reading Matrix, 1(1). Retrieved May 11, 2021 from http://www.readingmatrix.com/articles/bell/article.pdf

Blommers, P., & Lindquist, E. F. (1944). Rate of comprehension of reading; its measurement and its relation to comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 35(8), 449-473.

Breznitz, Z. (2006). Fluency in reading: Synchronization of processes. Routledge.

Butler, T. W. (2007). Vocabulary and comprehension with students in primary grades: A comparison of instructional strategies. University of Florida.

Buzan, T. (2010). The Speed Reading Book: Read More, Learn More, Achieve More. BBC Worldwide Limited.

Church, J. W. (2002). Relationship between text display method and college student short-term knowledge retention during self-study. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 64(3-A), 98-98 p. Retrieved September 12, 2021 from https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1884&context=etd

Culver, L. C. (1991). Improving Reading Speed and Comprehension of ESL Students with the Computer. Dissertations/Theses - Practicum Papers (043), Nova University. Retrieved March 16, 2021 from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED335960.pdf

Cutler, W. E. (2002). Triple Your Reading Speed (4th Editio). Pocket Books.

Dillon, A. (1992). Reading from paper versus screens: A critical review of the empirical literature. Ergonomics, 35(10), 1297–1326. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139208967394

Eilers, L. H., & Pinkley, C. (2006). Metacognitive strategies help students to comprehend all text. Reading Improvement, 43(1), 13–30.

eReflect. (2019). 7 Speed Reading EX. Retrieved May 18, 2021 from www.7speedreading.com

Farr, R., & Carey, R. F. (1986). What can be Learned? https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2279-5_70

Flesch, R. (2013). Chapter 2 : Let’s Start With the Formula. In How to Write Plain English. 5-12. Academia, Retrieved June 3, 2021 from https://www.academia.edu/50154537/How_to_Write_Plain_English?from=cover_page

Focarile, D. A. (2006). The Accelerated Reader Program and students’ attitude towards reading. In ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Retrieved March 16, 2021 from https://search.proquest.com/docview/305358963?accountid=10673%0Ahttp://openurl.ac.uk/redirect/athens:edu/?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&genre=dissertations+%26+theses&sid=ProQ:ProQuest+Dissertations+%26+Theses+Global&at

Goding, E. C. (2003). Tachistoscope - History and Uses. Journal of Behavioral Optometry, 14(2), 39–42.

Hair Jr, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L., & Kuppelwieser, V. G. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). European Business Review. 26(2), 106-121.

Javid, C. Z., & Al-Khairi, M. H. (2011). The Role of Pleasure Reading in Enhancing Reading Speed and Reading Comprehension: A Case Study. Arab World English Journal, 2(4), 219–256. Retrieved July 17, 2021 from https://www.academia.edu/8519366/The_Role_of_Pleasure_Reading_in_Enhancing_Reading_Speed_and_Reading_Comprehension_A_Case_Study

Johnson, R. A., & Howard, C. A. (2003). The Effects Of The Accelerated Reader Program On The Reading Comprehension Of Pupils In Grades Three, Four, And Five. The Reading Matrix, 3(3), 30–31.

Kana’an, B. H. I., Abdul-Rab, S. D., & Siddiqui, A. (2014). The Effect of Expansion of Vision Span on Reading Speed: A Case Study of EFL Major Students at King Khalid University. English Language Teaching, 7(10), 57–68. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v7n10p57

Krumian, A. (1999). Critical Analysis of the Study of Speed Reading. Claremont Graduate University, California.

Kulik, J. A., Bangert, R. L., & Williams, G. W. (1983). Effects of computer-based teaching on secondary school students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 75(1), 1-19.

Laerd Statistics. (2015). Statistical Tutorials and Software Guides. Retrieved August 6, 2021 from https://statistics.laerd.com

Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2010). Practical Research: Planning and Design. In Practical Research - Planning & Design. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.51613

Mcknight, D. (1992). Using the Accelerated Reader and Other Strategies and Varied Techniques To Improve the Reading Attitudes of Fifth Grade Students. Nova University.

Mitchell, C. (2013). Technology in their Hands: Students’ Voices from a Nook Summer Reading Program for Non-Proficient Fifth-Grade Students [University of Maryland]. https://doi.org/10.7763/IPEDR

Nation, I. S. P. (2008). Teaching ESL/EFL Reading and Writing. ESL & Applied Linguistics Professional Series. https://doi.org/10.1080/13586840701442950

Rayner, K. (1998). Eye movements in reading and information processing: 20 years of research. Psychological Bulletin, 124(3), 372–422. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.124.3.372

Rayner, K., Schotter, E. R., Masson, M. E., Potter, M. C., & Treiman, R. (2016). So Much to Read, So Little Time: How Do We Read, and Can Speed Reading Help? Psychol Sci Public Interest, 17(1), 4–34.

Ronald, S. (2005). The Scientific Foundations for RocketReader RocketReader the Company. February, 1–22. Retrieved March 13, 2021 from http://www.m.rocketreader.com/research/rocketreader_whitepaper.pdf

Sackstein, S., Spark, L., & Jenkins, A. (2015). Are e-books effective tools for learning? Reading speed and comprehension: iPad®i vs. paper. South African Journal of Education, 35(4), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v35n4a1202

Shaughnessy, M. F. (2015). An Interview with Marc Slater: 7 Speed Reading. EducationViews, 1–3. Retrieved September 26, 2021 from educationviews.org/marc-slater-7-speed-reading/

Smith, F. (2004). Understanding reading: a psycholinguistic analysis of reading and learning to read (Sixth). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Smolka, P., Žáček, M., & Konečná, P. (2020). Proposal of Methodology for Evaluation of Ergonomics of Teaching Materials Using Eye Tracking. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15(24), 4–14. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i24.19319

Snowling, M., Cain, K., Nation, K., & Oakhill, J. (2009). Reading comprehension: nature, assessment and teaching. ESRC Booklet. Retrieved September 12, 2021 from http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/50134/

Speed Reading: How to Absorb Information Quickly and Effectively. (2021). Mind Tools. Retrieved September 1, 2021 from https://www.mindtools.com/speedrd.html

SPSS, I. (2017). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. In IBM Corp (25.0; Vol. 440). IBM Corporation.

Stroud, J. B., & Henderson, M. (1943). Rate of reading and learning by reading. Journal of Educational Psychology, 34(4), 193-205.

Tinker, M. A. (1958). Recent Studies of Eye Movements in Reading. Psychological Bulletin, 55(4), 215–231.

Waters, T. K. (2016). Improving reading: A case study of the accelerated reader program. In Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences (Vol. 78, Issues 5-A(E)). Retrieved September 13, 2021 from http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=psyc13&NEWS=N&AN=2017-10858-276

Wu, L., & Xi, C. (2018). Eye tracking technology in detecting the switch cost in the intra-sentential code-switching contexts. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 13(5), 117–129. https://doi.org/10.3991/IJET.V13I05.8109

Xu, M., Lv, K., & Bi, X. (2016). Computer network assisted teaching of college English reading. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 11(8), 47–53. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v11i08.6048

Yamashita, J., & Ichikawa, S. (2010). Examining reading fluency in a foreign language: Effects of text segmentation on L2 readers. Reading in a Foreign Language, 22(2), 263–283. Retrieved October 11, 2021 from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.library.cmu.edu/llba/docview/772280115/5201A93B0EB0480CPQ/3?accountid=9902

Downloads

Published

2022-03-01

Issue

Section

Articles