This addresses the importance of teaching knowledge on reading. This article (that I had to order through the library) shows how ESL students who are taught background cultural knowledge can understand texts that are more complex linguistically than those who aren't. When they have no background knowledge, students tend to rely on their own cultural knowledge which can interact with the implicit cultural knowledge of a text and lead to misunderstanding and distortion. This is fascinating because any authentic document used in second language class carries so much implicit cultural knowledge that if teachers don't spend time unpacking this knowledge students might misunderstand a lot. At the same time, I would argue that reading with a critical and questioning mind, might help students learn about the other culture. This can be taught as well.
Floyd, P., & Carrell, P. L. (1987). Effects on ESL Reading of Teaching Cultural Content Schemata. Language Learning, 37(1), 89. doi:10.1111/j.1467-1770.1968.tb01313.x
This article brings to light an important difference when considering specific reading issues faced by subset populations of struggling readers. For ESOL and L2 readers, background knowledge can play a key role in how a student comes to visualize and create meaning surrounding a reading.
This addresses the importance of teaching knowledge on reading. This article (that I had to order through the library) shows how ESL students who are taught background cultural knowledge can understand texts that are more complex linguistically than those who aren't.
When they have no background knowledge, students tend to rely on their own cultural knowledge which can interact with the implicit cultural knowledge of a text and lead to misunderstanding and distortion.
This is fascinating because any authentic document used in second language class carries so much implicit cultural knowledge that if teachers don't spend time unpacking this knowledge students might misunderstand a lot. At the same time, I would argue that reading with a critical and questioning mind, might help students learn about the other culture. This can be taught as well.
Floyd, P., & Carrell, P. L. (1987). Effects on ESL Reading of Teaching Cultural Content Schemata. Language Learning, 37(1), 89. doi:10.1111/j.1467-1770.1968.tb01313.x
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