The way to improve EFL reading skill: Focusing on semantic mapping and leveled group activities

의미망 활동과 수준별 학습을 통한 영어 독해력 향상 방안

This paper is to suggest the way to improve EFL reading skill through semantic mapping by leveled group activities. Semantic mapping is a categorical structuring of information in graphic forms or diagrams. It can be used to activate and organize background knowledge on topics in classrooms. For small group activities, the class is divided into higher leveled groups and lower leveled groups of four members based on their grades. The teaching process has three stages: Pre-reading, while-reading, and post-reading. In the pre-reading stage, students discuss what they know about the topic. They map ideas with a brainstorming technique. In the while-reading stage, they read the text about the topic. While they are reading, they could ask some questions they might have and discuss the information in the text and categorize them with semantic mapping. In the post-reading stage, they discuss what they thought of the topic and add some information about the topic with semantic mapping. For the subjects of this study, third grade, middle school students were selected: 41 students for the experimental group and 35 students for the control group. The experimental period covered almost one semester from March to August, 2000. The results were as follows: 1) The students in the experimental group had higher scores in reading comprehension than those in the control group when semantic mapping was used; 2) The use of semantic mapping in reading comprehension was found to be much more effective in the higher leveled group than in the lower leveled group; 3) The results of questionnaires showed that many students became more interested and motivated in English, and semantic mapping helped them to participate positively in reading the English text. Thus, using semantic mapping by leveled group activities can be an effective alternative to traditional teaching methods for teachers who desire to improve reading skill in middle school students' English classes.