Reading is one of the core skills in English learning.It is indispensable for EFL learners to develop good English reading literacy in primary schools.English picture books are consistent with pupils’cognitive and th...Reading is one of the core skills in English learning.It is indispensable for EFL learners to develop good English reading literacy in primary schools.English picture books are consistent with pupils’cognitive and thinking modes,which is valuable to improve their English reading literacy.However,at present,most Chinese pupils have some problems in English reading.The paper aims at analyzing the current problems in Chinese pupils’English reading and digging out the values and strategies of English picture book reading,so as to stimulate their reading interests,cultivate their intercultural awareness,and improve their English reading literacy.展开更多
The book Becoming a Reading Teacher:Connecting Research and Practice aims to encourage readers to regard reading as a lifelong habit.To bridge the gap between teachers and researchers,this book is structured around fo...The book Becoming a Reading Teacher:Connecting Research and Practice aims to encourage readers to regard reading as a lifelong habit.To bridge the gap between teachers and researchers,this book is structured around four parts:reading as a linguistic process,reading as a personal experience,reading as a collective experience,and reading as a classroom practice.The definition of a reading teacher can be interpreted in two ways:the teacher who builds readings into the lesson and the teacher who provides the opportunity for learners to be readers,but who is a reader themselves.Such teachers regard reading as a lifelong learning habit and pass on the enthusiasm to learners,eventually creating a reading culture beyond the classroom.However,the necessity for reading teachers to participate in the research may be explained as follows.Firstly,new research may change one’s mind.What’s more,research allows teachers to turn their difficulties,surprises,and challenges into questions,and to seek answers to those questions.In addition,research helps teachers overcome the challenges in teaching by discovering new strategies.Research can also help to prove teachers’choices and decisions in teaching.Secondly,research allows teachers to see the role they play in the bigger picture.Research connects teachers with others and gives them a broader and shared perspective on their questions and experiences.Last but not least,research informs and promotes changes in policy,thinking,and so on.展开更多
The quality of course books decides the quality of teaching. It is important to evaluate course books. The author analyzes "Reading and Writing Book" of "21st Century College English" based on the ...The quality of course books decides the quality of teaching. It is important to evaluate course books. The author analyzes "Reading and Writing Book" of "21st Century College English" based on the Nuttal’s reading model. Firstly, this model is presented in the open- ing part. Secondly, then the author discusses suitability of the course book from its content variety, authenticity and the training of language skills. Thirdly, how Nuttal’s reading prin- ciples and reading skills are reflected in such book is analyzed. Based on the discussion and analysis, conclusions are drawn that it is suitable for reading instruction; many of the reading principles and reading skills are well embodied and trained in this book. Finally suggestions are presented in the conclusion part. These suggestions include: 1) this book should be adopted more authentic materials such as poems, advertisements, recipes, travel guidebooks and so on; 2) teachers may present and train students’ reading skills systematically; 3) teachers should provide more and better non-linear text, such as col- ored pictures, reference book list, etc.展开更多
This paper presents four teaching techniques of activating the textbook for intensive reading which include:injecting contemporary elements into the text,relating the text to students' life,questioning about the t...This paper presents four teaching techniques of activating the textbook for intensive reading which include:injecting contemporary elements into the text,relating the text to students' life,questioning about the text challengingly and ingeniously,and spicing up the text.展开更多
This paper first introduced shared-book reading as good family activity for early childhood.A series of related experi ments and findings were then examined.The author went on to analyze three influential factors of s...This paper first introduced shared-book reading as good family activity for early childhood.A series of related experi ments and findings were then examined.The author went on to analyze three influential factors of shared book reading and its de velopmental,emotional and learning difficulty’s value.Finally,comments and suggestions were made to future researchers of the same field.展开更多
Nowadays, more and more educators have affirmed that picture book plays an important significance in the development of children and thought that reading picture book is indispensable to the education of lower grades ...Nowadays, more and more educators have affirmed that picture book plays an important significance in the development of children and thought that reading picture book is indispensable to the education of lower grades of elementary school.However, the teaching of reading in English, most teachers have not realized the satisfactory teaching effect, it is necessary to analyze the theoretical basis of English picture book and its application in the teaching of English reading in lower grades of elementary school and dig its value.展开更多
China is in the era of rapid development of information technology and the era of close cultural communication between countries, which requires English teaching to cultivate students’ cultural awareness, develop the...China is in the era of rapid development of information technology and the era of close cultural communication between countries, which requires English teaching to cultivate students’ cultural awareness, develop their intercultural communicative competence. Based on Byram’s checklist, this paper analyzes the cultural contents in reading materials of New Senior English for China (NSEFC) Compulsory Book 3. The research indicates that the textbook is rich in cultural content and the selected reading materials are authentic. However, there are two shortcomings: the uneven distribution of themes as well as cultural contents and the lack of cultural content comparison in the textbook. According to the findings, this paper provides some suggestions for textbook editors and English teachers, aiming at realizing the improvement and a better use of the textbook, so as to cultivate students’ cultural awareness.展开更多
This passage mainly introduced the latest edition of the anthology"Intercultural Communication:A Reader"which is about the concepts and heated topics involved with intercultural communication.The basic ideas...This passage mainly introduced the latest edition of the anthology"Intercultural Communication:A Reader"which is about the concepts and heated topics involved with intercultural communication.The basic ideas of each chapter,some interesting and innovative concepts about intercultural communication,and the pros and cons of the anthology were analyzed thoroughly in this passage,and the basic information about the authors and the suggestion to polish the book were also provided in the article.展开更多
With the advancement of the new curriculum reform,many schools have put forward the idea of combing English reading with stratified teaching.Enhancing the effectiveness of reading English picture books is an important...With the advancement of the new curriculum reform,many schools have put forward the idea of combing English reading with stratified teaching.Enhancing the effectiveness of reading English picture books is an important goal that most English teachers uphold when reforming the teaching of English reading.In order to achieve this goal,it is necessary to improve the teaching methods of reading.Reading picture books is an important way to improve students5 core competencies in English.However,at present,the method of teaching reading in primary school is simple;in addition,the teaching activities are not well organized.Therefore,in order to improve students5 core competencies in English,this article points out several issues in the teaching of English picture book reading and provides some pedagogical implications for the teaching in this aspect based on the stratified teaching method and classroom observation by including Class 1,Grade 2 students from a primary school in Leshan as the research subjects.展开更多
In 1952, the federal government was called upon to investigate the comic book industry in order to determine if reading comic books influenced juvenile delinquency. The United States could not afford to look weak from...In 1952, the federal government was called upon to investigate the comic book industry in order to determine if reading comic books influenced juvenile delinquency. The United States could not afford to look weak from any angle; the idea of Communist nations exploiting moral weakness of any kind was frightening to many. However, the Soviets were already aware of moral issues on the American home front that were affecting the health of the nation, such as civil rights, sexism (sexual confusion), a rise in fascism, and juvenile delinquency. This study will discuss the investigation of the comic book industry as the sole contributors to juvenile delinquent issues, as Fredric Wertham charged in his book Seduction of the Innocent. In addition, this study focuses on the ways in which Entertaining Comics (EC) pushed the envelope and challenged Cold War standards of ideal middle class values. Their creative resistance led to the federal investigation which nearly destroyed the comic book industry. Through these investigations, the federal government re-defined the first amendment as it applied to this type of media as a way to curtail what they believed was the Soviet Union's efforts to use our own literature as a propaganda tool for their people.展开更多
In this conceptual article we explore parents’shared book reading(SBR)interactions with their preschoolers across different book genres in their natural home settings.We consider the unique and shared contributions o...In this conceptual article we explore parents’shared book reading(SBR)interactions with their preschoolers across different book genres in their natural home settings.We consider the unique and shared contributions of narrative,informational,wordless,and alphabet picturebooks,and how reading across genres can increase children’s involvement in the interaction,deepen their content knowledge,expand their vocabulary,and strengthen their visual literacy.Beyond the benefi ts for children,we discuss the advantages for parents of reading from diff erent genres and highlight directions for future research.展开更多
Background: Inadequate antenatal care, both in coverage and standard, has been linked with poor pregnancy outcomes. In a resource poor setting, home delivery is considered very cheap, but the possible outcome of such ...Background: Inadequate antenatal care, both in coverage and standard, has been linked with poor pregnancy outcomes. In a resource poor setting, home delivery is considered very cheap, but the possible outcome of such pregnancies has been a subject of interest. This study evaluated the association of booking status with pregnancy outcomes. Objectives: To examine the factors that influence booking and impact of the booking status on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective cohort study of 240 (120 booked and 120 un-booked) pregnant mothers selected through systematic random sampling. The study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria. Chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression were used for analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.39 ± 5.05 years and 29.05 ± 6.36 years respectively for the booked and unbooked. Marital status (OR = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.24 - 32.59), educational status (OR = 36.40, 95% CI = 5.26-152.83), place of residence (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.06 - 0.41), partner’s support (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.37), family support (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.13), mode of delivery (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.12 - 0.46), APGAR score in first minute (OR = 6.02, 95% CI = 2.45 - 14.83) and NBICU admission (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.67 - 8.43) were associated with booked status. However, being unmarried, nulliparity/grandmultiparity, low level of education, blue colar jobs, low income, rural dwelling and poor partner and poor family support were associated with the unbooked. The booked parturients had a better perinatal outcome compared the unbooked. Conclusion/Recommendation: There was high prevalence of operative deliveries, perinatal morbidity and mortality among the unbooked mothers. Girl child education, employment and poverty alleviation would improve antenatal care utilization.展开更多
The efforts in this study are made to demonstrate how an EFL teacher should develop and adapt the ESP reading materials to meet their English majors’needs and the social contexts where the learners are going to work....The efforts in this study are made to demonstrate how an EFL teacher should develop and adapt the ESP reading materials to meet their English majors’needs and the social contexts where the learners are going to work.Based on a study of literature about material development and a case analysis of the teaching situation and students’profile,five criteria are proposed for selecting and adapting materials suitable for 3rd-year Hainan University English majors,and then an evaluation of the reading texts of the course book English for Tourism and Hospitality is made with these yardsticks.In view of the discussion and analysis,suggestions about ESP reading material development are put forth.展开更多
The activity of occipitotemporal regions involved in linguistic reading processes,such as the ventral occipitotemporal cortex(vOT),is believed to exhibit strong interactions during higher-order language processing,spe...The activity of occipitotemporal regions involved in linguistic reading processes,such as the ventral occipitotemporal cortex(vOT),is believed to exhibit strong interactions during higher-order language processing,specifically in the connectivity between the occipital gyrus and the temporal gyrus.In this study,we utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)with psychophysiological interaction(PPI)and dynamic causal modeling(DCM)to investigate the functional and effective connectivity in the occipitotemporal network during speed reading.We conducted the experiment with native Japanese speakers who underwent and without speed-reading training and subsequently performed established reading tasks at different speeds(slow,medium,and fast)while undergoing 3-Tesla Siemens fMRI.Our activation analyses revealed significant changes in occipital and temporal regions as reading speed increased,indicating functional connectivity within the occipitotemporal network.DCM results further demonstrated more intricate effective connections and high involvement within the occipitotemporal pathway:(1)reading signals originated from the inferior occipital gyrus(iO),distributed to the vOT and the posterior superior temporal sulcus(pSTS),and then gathered in the anterior superior temporal sulcus(aSTS);(2)reading speed loads had modulation effects on the pathways from the aSTS to vOT and from the iO to vOT.These findings highlight the complex connectivity and dynamic interactions within the occipitotemporal network during speed-reading processes.展开更多
This experimental study investigated how text difficulty and different working memory capacity(WMC)affected Chinese EFL learners’reading comprehension and their tendency to engage in task-unrelated thoughts,that is,m...This experimental study investigated how text difficulty and different working memory capacity(WMC)affected Chinese EFL learners’reading comprehension and their tendency to engage in task-unrelated thoughts,that is,mind wandering(MW),in the course of reading.Sixty first-year university non-English majors participated in the study.A two-factor mixed experimental design of 2(text difficulty:difficult and simple)×2(WMC:high/large and low/small)was employed.Results revealed that 1)the main and interaction effects of WMC and text difficulty on voluntary MW were significant,whereas those on involuntary MW were not;2)while reading the easy texts,the involuntary MW of high-WMC individuals was less frequent than that of low-WMC ones,whereas while reading the difficult ones,the direct relationship between WMC and involuntary MW was not found;and that 3)high-WMC individuals had a lower overall rate of MW and better reading performance than low-WMC individuals did,but with increasing text difficulty,their rates of overall MW and voluntary MW were getting higher and higher,and the reading performance was getting lower and lower.These results lend support to WM theory and have pedagogical implications for the instruction of L2 reading.展开更多
基金This paper is one of the results of the research programs the author participated“Research on Primary School English Picture Book Reading Teaching Practice from the Perspective of Subject Core Literacy”(Grant Fund No.2022ZJY1214)the key project of the“14th Five-Year Plan”for Education Science in Guangxi in 2022.
文摘Reading is one of the core skills in English learning.It is indispensable for EFL learners to develop good English reading literacy in primary schools.English picture books are consistent with pupils’cognitive and thinking modes,which is valuable to improve their English reading literacy.However,at present,most Chinese pupils have some problems in English reading.The paper aims at analyzing the current problems in Chinese pupils’English reading and digging out the values and strategies of English picture book reading,so as to stimulate their reading interests,cultivate their intercultural awareness,and improve their English reading literacy.
基金Henan Social Science Foundation Project“Research on the Typological Macro-Event Variation of Chinese Reciprocal Construction”(2023BYY002)Henan University Graduate Education Teaching Reform Research and Practice Project“English Language Intelligence Interdisciplinary Talent Training and Practice”(YJSJG2023XJ026)。
文摘The book Becoming a Reading Teacher:Connecting Research and Practice aims to encourage readers to regard reading as a lifelong habit.To bridge the gap between teachers and researchers,this book is structured around four parts:reading as a linguistic process,reading as a personal experience,reading as a collective experience,and reading as a classroom practice.The definition of a reading teacher can be interpreted in two ways:the teacher who builds readings into the lesson and the teacher who provides the opportunity for learners to be readers,but who is a reader themselves.Such teachers regard reading as a lifelong learning habit and pass on the enthusiasm to learners,eventually creating a reading culture beyond the classroom.However,the necessity for reading teachers to participate in the research may be explained as follows.Firstly,new research may change one’s mind.What’s more,research allows teachers to turn their difficulties,surprises,and challenges into questions,and to seek answers to those questions.In addition,research helps teachers overcome the challenges in teaching by discovering new strategies.Research can also help to prove teachers’choices and decisions in teaching.Secondly,research allows teachers to see the role they play in the bigger picture.Research connects teachers with others and gives them a broader and shared perspective on their questions and experiences.Last but not least,research informs and promotes changes in policy,thinking,and so on.
文摘The quality of course books decides the quality of teaching. It is important to evaluate course books. The author analyzes "Reading and Writing Book" of "21st Century College English" based on the Nuttal’s reading model. Firstly, this model is presented in the open- ing part. Secondly, then the author discusses suitability of the course book from its content variety, authenticity and the training of language skills. Thirdly, how Nuttal’s reading prin- ciples and reading skills are reflected in such book is analyzed. Based on the discussion and analysis, conclusions are drawn that it is suitable for reading instruction; many of the reading principles and reading skills are well embodied and trained in this book. Finally suggestions are presented in the conclusion part. These suggestions include: 1) this book should be adopted more authentic materials such as poems, advertisements, recipes, travel guidebooks and so on; 2) teachers may present and train students’ reading skills systematically; 3) teachers should provide more and better non-linear text, such as col- ored pictures, reference book list, etc.
文摘This paper presents four teaching techniques of activating the textbook for intensive reading which include:injecting contemporary elements into the text,relating the text to students' life,questioning about the text challengingly and ingeniously,and spicing up the text.
文摘This paper first introduced shared-book reading as good family activity for early childhood.A series of related experi ments and findings were then examined.The author went on to analyze three influential factors of shared book reading and its de velopmental,emotional and learning difficulty’s value.Finally,comments and suggestions were made to future researchers of the same field.
文摘Nowadays, more and more educators have affirmed that picture book plays an important significance in the development of children and thought that reading picture book is indispensable to the education of lower grades of elementary school.However, the teaching of reading in English, most teachers have not realized the satisfactory teaching effect, it is necessary to analyze the theoretical basis of English picture book and its application in the teaching of English reading in lower grades of elementary school and dig its value.
文摘China is in the era of rapid development of information technology and the era of close cultural communication between countries, which requires English teaching to cultivate students’ cultural awareness, develop their intercultural communicative competence. Based on Byram’s checklist, this paper analyzes the cultural contents in reading materials of New Senior English for China (NSEFC) Compulsory Book 3. The research indicates that the textbook is rich in cultural content and the selected reading materials are authentic. However, there are two shortcomings: the uneven distribution of themes as well as cultural contents and the lack of cultural content comparison in the textbook. According to the findings, this paper provides some suggestions for textbook editors and English teachers, aiming at realizing the improvement and a better use of the textbook, so as to cultivate students’ cultural awareness.
文摘This passage mainly introduced the latest edition of the anthology"Intercultural Communication:A Reader"which is about the concepts and heated topics involved with intercultural communication.The basic ideas of each chapter,some interesting and innovative concepts about intercultural communication,and the pros and cons of the anthology were analyzed thoroughly in this passage,and the basic information about the authors and the suggestion to polish the book were also provided in the article.
文摘With the advancement of the new curriculum reform,many schools have put forward the idea of combing English reading with stratified teaching.Enhancing the effectiveness of reading English picture books is an important goal that most English teachers uphold when reforming the teaching of English reading.In order to achieve this goal,it is necessary to improve the teaching methods of reading.Reading picture books is an important way to improve students5 core competencies in English.However,at present,the method of teaching reading in primary school is simple;in addition,the teaching activities are not well organized.Therefore,in order to improve students5 core competencies in English,this article points out several issues in the teaching of English picture book reading and provides some pedagogical implications for the teaching in this aspect based on the stratified teaching method and classroom observation by including Class 1,Grade 2 students from a primary school in Leshan as the research subjects.
文摘In 1952, the federal government was called upon to investigate the comic book industry in order to determine if reading comic books influenced juvenile delinquency. The United States could not afford to look weak from any angle; the idea of Communist nations exploiting moral weakness of any kind was frightening to many. However, the Soviets were already aware of moral issues on the American home front that were affecting the health of the nation, such as civil rights, sexism (sexual confusion), a rise in fascism, and juvenile delinquency. This study will discuss the investigation of the comic book industry as the sole contributors to juvenile delinquent issues, as Fredric Wertham charged in his book Seduction of the Innocent. In addition, this study focuses on the ways in which Entertaining Comics (EC) pushed the envelope and challenged Cold War standards of ideal middle class values. Their creative resistance led to the federal investigation which nearly destroyed the comic book industry. Through these investigations, the federal government re-defined the first amendment as it applied to this type of media as a way to curtail what they believed was the Soviet Union's efforts to use our own literature as a propaganda tool for their people.
文摘In this conceptual article we explore parents’shared book reading(SBR)interactions with their preschoolers across different book genres in their natural home settings.We consider the unique and shared contributions of narrative,informational,wordless,and alphabet picturebooks,and how reading across genres can increase children’s involvement in the interaction,deepen their content knowledge,expand their vocabulary,and strengthen their visual literacy.Beyond the benefi ts for children,we discuss the advantages for parents of reading from diff erent genres and highlight directions for future research.
文摘Background: Inadequate antenatal care, both in coverage and standard, has been linked with poor pregnancy outcomes. In a resource poor setting, home delivery is considered very cheap, but the possible outcome of such pregnancies has been a subject of interest. This study evaluated the association of booking status with pregnancy outcomes. Objectives: To examine the factors that influence booking and impact of the booking status on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective cohort study of 240 (120 booked and 120 un-booked) pregnant mothers selected through systematic random sampling. The study was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria. Chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression were used for analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.39 ± 5.05 years and 29.05 ± 6.36 years respectively for the booked and unbooked. Marital status (OR = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.24 - 32.59), educational status (OR = 36.40, 95% CI = 5.26-152.83), place of residence (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.06 - 0.41), partner’s support (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.37), family support (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01 - 0.13), mode of delivery (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.12 - 0.46), APGAR score in first minute (OR = 6.02, 95% CI = 2.45 - 14.83) and NBICU admission (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.67 - 8.43) were associated with booked status. However, being unmarried, nulliparity/grandmultiparity, low level of education, blue colar jobs, low income, rural dwelling and poor partner and poor family support were associated with the unbooked. The booked parturients had a better perinatal outcome compared the unbooked. Conclusion/Recommendation: There was high prevalence of operative deliveries, perinatal morbidity and mortality among the unbooked mothers. Girl child education, employment and poverty alleviation would improve antenatal care utilization.
文摘The efforts in this study are made to demonstrate how an EFL teacher should develop and adapt the ESP reading materials to meet their English majors’needs and the social contexts where the learners are going to work.Based on a study of literature about material development and a case analysis of the teaching situation and students’profile,five criteria are proposed for selecting and adapting materials suitable for 3rd-year Hainan University English majors,and then an evaluation of the reading texts of the course book English for Tourism and Hospitality is made with these yardsticks.In view of the discussion and analysis,suggestions about ESP reading material development are put forth.
基金Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(21K15614)National Natural Science Foundation of China(62103404)Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative(2022VBA0031).
文摘The activity of occipitotemporal regions involved in linguistic reading processes,such as the ventral occipitotemporal cortex(vOT),is believed to exhibit strong interactions during higher-order language processing,specifically in the connectivity between the occipital gyrus and the temporal gyrus.In this study,we utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)with psychophysiological interaction(PPI)and dynamic causal modeling(DCM)to investigate the functional and effective connectivity in the occipitotemporal network during speed reading.We conducted the experiment with native Japanese speakers who underwent and without speed-reading training and subsequently performed established reading tasks at different speeds(slow,medium,and fast)while undergoing 3-Tesla Siemens fMRI.Our activation analyses revealed significant changes in occipital and temporal regions as reading speed increased,indicating functional connectivity within the occipitotemporal network.DCM results further demonstrated more intricate effective connections and high involvement within the occipitotemporal pathway:(1)reading signals originated from the inferior occipital gyrus(iO),distributed to the vOT and the posterior superior temporal sulcus(pSTS),and then gathered in the anterior superior temporal sulcus(aSTS);(2)reading speed loads had modulation effects on the pathways from the aSTS to vOT and from the iO to vOT.These findings highlight the complex connectivity and dynamic interactions within the occipitotemporal network during speed-reading processes.
文摘This experimental study investigated how text difficulty and different working memory capacity(WMC)affected Chinese EFL learners’reading comprehension and their tendency to engage in task-unrelated thoughts,that is,mind wandering(MW),in the course of reading.Sixty first-year university non-English majors participated in the study.A two-factor mixed experimental design of 2(text difficulty:difficult and simple)×2(WMC:high/large and low/small)was employed.Results revealed that 1)the main and interaction effects of WMC and text difficulty on voluntary MW were significant,whereas those on involuntary MW were not;2)while reading the easy texts,the involuntary MW of high-WMC individuals was less frequent than that of low-WMC ones,whereas while reading the difficult ones,the direct relationship between WMC and involuntary MW was not found;and that 3)high-WMC individuals had a lower overall rate of MW and better reading performance than low-WMC individuals did,but with increasing text difficulty,their rates of overall MW and voluntary MW were getting higher and higher,and the reading performance was getting lower and lower.These results lend support to WM theory and have pedagogical implications for the instruction of L2 reading.