Learning reading through ESL on-line materials
IKIP WIDYA DARMA
SURABAYA, INDONESIA
Abstract
Learning reading is a kind of way to grab the message of the passage by reading the content of the text. On-line text material is one of the reading materials can be found by learners free. On-line materials consist of a huge complexity of grammar, vocabulary, idiom, and lexicon. Some barriers found by learners while they are reading the materials could be resolve by experiencing to read the various topics on the text. Slowly but surely, Learners could master their reading skill by reading different topic materials again and again. The intensity of reading activity could speed the learners up to absorb the information delivered. Over time, by Reading on-line materials gradually could help the readers comprehend the content of the reading text even faster. And eventually, they will be knowledgeable ever.
Keywords: complexity, passage, intensity
Introduction
Reading is an activity to find out some information delivered by an author in written product. It provides any kinds of information needed by readers. Reading some passages could satisfy readers to get what they want. They will feel happy and lead them to be more knowledgeable if the information meets their need.
For some readers who have sufficient background knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, idiom, and lexicon would be easy for them to grab the information in the text. They do not get any barriers to absorb the message of the text. They could find much more information they need to get because of their speed of reading. It means that reading ability is a kind of way needed by readers to gain the information absorbed as much as they want.
The fruit of reading text is not always able to get by all readers easily. Those who do not have sufficient background knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, idiom, and lexicon will face difficulties even worse to absorb the intention of the passage delivered. They will be trapped into confusion.
It seems that repetition is one of other ways to decrease the level of confusion to grab the message of the text. Kilickaya (2004) said “The way to gain the mainstream of reading content is needed by readers. They need to face quite often with the text written by native speakers. “
Background
Some students get difficulties to find some information delivered in English text. The cause of the problems varies from one person to the other. This kind of phenomenon urges educators to get some methods to solve the problems. The failure in understanding English passages leads the students to use on-line translation service to conduct the task. It will help them grab the message of the text.
Furthermore, Getting involve using computer, learners can be triggered to find out other text materials on-line. It means that using computer could foster the mastery of learners’ English proficiency. Later on it influences the color of learners’ knowledge. In the other hand, Ybarra, R. (2003) stated that using Computer to enhance the student’s fluency in reading is most likely beneficial.
Reading
Reading is an activity done by readers to gain some information needed. The People with any ages can do such kind of thing. Many on-line resources are provided by author that learners can choose the one fit with them. Nevertheless, reading activity can provide the readers both pleasant and unexpected result. It depends on the intension of the readers have. The way to absorb the meaning of the lines in reading can trigger readers to read a lot. They need to be accustomed to reading in various topics to enrich their vocabulary building. By knowing a large number of words will enable learners to comprehend the message of the text greatly. Gee, J. P. (2001) said “Using multiple cues to give meaning to written text is reading”.
Resource of reading
The resource of the material is also to play important role in serving readers’ need. Some resources are provided in various forms like books, peppers, and even on computer. Readers need to be selective in choosing the resource of the text they need. It can digress from the main purpose of the intended ideas if readers find the materials from the improper resources. But the proper text materials are beneficial for learners. Nevertheless, the content of reading materials is very complex. It is important to help readers solve their own problem (Scholtz and Prinsloo, 2001)
Rate reading
To get some information as much as possible is a hard work, readers need to pay much attention on their speed. The faster they read the greater they get. That is why to reach a certain speed in reading, readers need to be used to reading various topics. Reading a lot is a good way to be good readers. The way to gain rate in reading, readers need to read various texts a lot. Like Browning (2003) said that Practicing is a good way to do.
The use of computer to enhance readers’ speed in reading is an extraordinary practice. The internet access provides any favorable topics readers can choose. Reading a text with a desirable topic can trigger readers to read more (Hurst, B. (2001).
Moreover, Culver (1991) in AlKahtani, S. (1999) said “The results showed some improvements for the majority of students in the target group with an overall increase of 3.9 grade level in reading rate. The results show important information about the effect of increasing reading speed on student comprehension as a result of employing computers”.
Complexity of reading content
On the other hand, the background knowledge of readers in grammar, vocabulary, idiom, and lexicon is the key to grab the message of the text. They are the important keys the readers need to absorb the whole picture of the text. Having such kind of elements also could help readers to read any kind of topics fast.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary is a tool to understand what the author conveyed and as the words the speakers use to deliver their intention. It takes patience for readers to gain a large vocabulary building. Reading some on-line materials by choosing a desirable topic on a proper level could increase the number of words the readers need to get. Kavaliauskienë and Janulevièienë (2001) Said “there is a commonplace assumption that the more words a learner knows, the larger the learner's vocabulary knowledge is”.
Idiomatic
Idiomatic is one of the barrier the readers face to catch the message of the passage. The words like look for, look at, and look after are idioms. Learners cannot translate them word for word. They have their meaning like what they are. Some short stories also have some idioms. Learners can learn idiomatic by reading various topics a lot. Wu (2008) said “English idioms do not mean what they literally mean; however, mass media, textbooks and everyday language represent rich sources of idiomatic expressions.” Moreover, Getting involved in reading some on-line short stories could help readers grab point of view of the story. Practicing just that will increase their holistic in absorbing the intention of the context delivered by using idiomatic (Wu. 2008).
3.1. Grammar
The rule that can give a way speaker and listener know each other the intention they convey is grammar. Or in the other hand that Grammar is the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology. With grammar readers and author can interact to each other to convey their intention. Having sufficient grammar background knowledge could enhance speakers to practice good conversation. Like what Gee (2001) said that Word and grammar are not primarily about giving and getting information but are, rather, about giving and getting different perspective on experience.
Repetition
Repetition is a kind of way to keep what learners have read to stay longer in their brain. Retelling is a kind of repetition. Repetition will help learners to better their speaking competence or understand the context much better. So After learning some rules of constructing sentences, learners need to make them sound natural rather than memorize the pattern. Reading a lot or extensive reading means that allowing the learners to see the use of grammar in real context again and again. Grammar and words are repeated in any text materials. So by reading a lot, learners are facing similar grammar and words in different topics. Extensive reading puts previously learned vocabulary and grammar into meaningful context and teaches new words (Antepara. 2003).
Lexicon
Lexicon is a language readers’ knowledge of words. To build the readers’ prospective of grabbing message of the text, the readers use dictionary to build their vocabulary building. They translate the words from L2 to L1 and vice versa. Bit by bit the words they recognize are bigger and bigger. It is very important for reader to understand what the holistic message of the context. Kavaliauskienë and Janulevièienë (2001) stated “There is another relevant and quite important point to teaching ESP through lexical items is the students' ability to find an equivalent in L1 to match a lexical phrase in L2. As all teachers of English probably realize proficiency in L2 implies the ability to be bilingual -- using appropriately and interchangeably L2 and L1. We dealt with this theme elsewhere”
Skimming and scanning
The purpose of reading is very different from one person to another. Skimming and scanning in reading activity are two ways readers use to gain the intended information. The people who want to know the material in detail they are most likely to use scanning but those who just need to grab the message they tend to skim the material. Scanning is a process to gain detail information in the text. While Skimming is a way readers use to see the whole picture of the passage (Kawabata, T. 2007). Both ways skimming and scanning are things that students do to read texts. It is very impossible for readers to scan the text while they do not have sufficient time to do so. Especially while reading newspapers, they need to read fast to grab the massage of the context.
ESL on-line material
The resource of the text can come into many ways. One of them is ESL on-line material. By having just that, readers could find the material written by native speakers. The very beginning learners can find out desirable topics based on their own level. Ken Schmidt (1999) in Krajka, J. (2000) said "Online Extensive Reading Opportunities for Lower-Level Learners of EFL/ESL" raises the issue of using the Internet as the source for the reading supplement to the course. He also stated in his article that the Internet is indeed a great treasure trove of varied reading comprehension input.
Reading has close relationship with words. By facing new words often, make the readers easy to understand the content of the text. They need variety to read a lot of text to avoid the boredom. Constantinescu, A. I. (2007) stated “Many features of the computer are considered to enhance vocabulary development and reading comprehension”.
Learner autonomy
By giving the opportunity to students to explore the on-line materials by themselves, teachers let students have great possibilities to develop themselves to the optimum mastery on the intended subject matter. Thanasoulas, D. (2000) said that Learner autonomy consists in becoming aware of, and identifying, one's strategies, needs, and goals as a learner, and having the opportunity to reconsider and refashion approaches and procedures for optimal learning.
Learners can find some short desirable on-line materials to enhance their proficiency in reading and listening on http://www.rong-chang.com/
The stages of ESL online material
Choosing the material online is wonderful. It is not only free but also rich in various materials. It is accessible for any ages. It offers any levels of difficulties. And moreover, it leads readers to be available in reading any materials. Most of on-line material is free and various. The learners from young to adult learners can access the favorable text based on their level. Mikulecky, L. J. (2007) said “Free and inexpensive Internet resources can now allow teachers to more easily use children’s and young adult literature to gain the benefits of extensive L2 reading for their students”. But something needs to be considered is accompanying children to access some material on-line. The improper resource can lead the kids to be uncontrollable condition.
The influence of using ESL on-line material on knowledge building
Because of its variety, ESL online material enriches readers’ knowledge in any fields. Students can find out some materials related to their subject matter. They can deepen their mastery on the material as much as they want. For some workers can search on google any desirable information. All the information they get can support their job need. The sites of newspapers, such as for instance Daily Mirror or The Independent, are not abridged or adapted for the learners of English in any way, so especially non-native teachers can find them stimulating in terms of new sophisticated vocabulary, reading comprehension skills and enlarging one's knowledge of the world. Krajka, J. (2000).
Conclusion
Reading ESL online material a lot can help readers increase their speed, reduce the barriers, and enrich their knowledge. It can enrich learners’ vocabulary building also. Browning, J. (2003) stated “With the exposure of the Internet in a global arena, students need to master reading in order to understand the vast knowledge the world embraces them with”.
References
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