Effects Of Comic Strips On L2 Learners' Reading Comprehension.

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Liu, J. (2004) Effects of Comic Strips on L2 Learners' Reading Comprehension.TESOL Quarterly, 38 (2), pp. 225-243. This experiment investigated the role of comic strips on ESL learners' reading comprehension considering text and student's proficiency level. Adult students at an ESL center took placement tests before entering a university in the US. Their proficiency levels were estimated according to their scores on a scale from 10 to 70; participants were grouped into low intermediate proficiency (score 10 to 30) and high intermediate (score 40 to 70) proficiency levels. There were 135 students representing 116 countries enrolled in two-hour reading classes, 107 gave their consent to perform the study (53 low intermediate proficiency, 54 high intermediate proficiency). There were two texts and a comic strip. The texts offered the same information as the comic strip and they were prepared for two proficiency levels: Text 1 (250 words-low intermediate level), Text 2 (300 words-high intermediate group). These instruments were tested among other ESL learners before being used in the study, this contributed to the reliability of the materials used. Participants were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups (TG): TG 1 received Text 1, TG 2 received Text 1 with comic strip, TG 3 received Text 2 and TG 4 received Text 2 with comic strip. Data were collected by the immediate recall protocol (IRP) within a 2-week span. The researcher considered IRP as a valid means to test students' reading comprehension. Students could read the text as many times as necessary, then they handed it over and wrote down everything they had understood. Participants could write in English, in their L1 or both. This fact also added to the reliability of the study since the aim was to check comprehension rather than production. The written IRPs were scored by the researcher and two

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