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College and University I give permission to record or livestream Presentation (45 minutes)
Dictionary Usage during Extensive Reading
It is often recommended that learners not use a dictionary when doing Extensive Reading and instead rely on surrounding context to infer meaning of unknown words. The current research project, supported by a Japanese federal grant, is investigating how access to an integrated dictionary during ER correlates with learners’ ability to accurately guess meaning. Roughly 120 first-year English majors read 200-300,000 words using the ER application Xreading, which offers optional access to glossary definitions. At the beginning and end of the year, students report the reading strategies they use and take a test to gauge their ability to accurately guess meaning from context. This presentation will report results from the first three years of the research project. Results thus far do not indicate overall significant differences between control groups and those allowed dictionary access. Later stages of this research will include further replication and the addition of guessing from context training.
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I have spent the last 25 years travelling and teaching in various countries around the world, the last 14 in Japan. Currently, I am working at Kyorin University, where I use extensive reading in all compulsory first-year classes and in an elective upper-level class. Apart from extensive reading, my interests include the use of technology to enhance the language learning experience.