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Online Reading for EFL Classes
Thomas Robb Kyoto Sangyo University
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Outline of Presentation

• Types of Reading
• Paper vs the Screen
• Book vs. Computer
• Differences in Content
• Course management considerations
• An experiment with online reading
• Reading memo-making
• Teacher review evaluation
• Questionnaire
• Recommendations

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Types of Reading
Reading Textbook
Intensive
Whole Class
Class Reader
Skills-based
Copied Materials
Individuals
Graded Reader
Extensive
Internet
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Paper Vs. Screen

• Note-taking
• Cant write interlinear comments
• Review
• Difficult to review
• Eyestrain
• Many cannot tolerate prolonged reading

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Book vs. Computer

• Accessibility
• Not everyone has a computer
• They are not always available for use
• Mobility
• Computers are normally in a fixed location, books
  can be used anywhere
• Usability
• Have you ever met someone who couldnt use a book?

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Differences in Content

• Quality
• Texts are professionally edited, but sites are
  often not
• Sites by NNS and NS teenagers often poor models
• Suitability
• No control of difficulty level, intended audience
• Length
• Texts units are bite-sized, sites vary in
  length
• Genre
• Short essays, stories site mostly factual in
  nature
• Reading mode
• Usually read linearly, from beginning to end
  sites often skimmed, read as hypertext or aborted
  halfway.

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Course Management

• Textbooks have a fixed amount of material,
  normally right for length of course
• Student can see how much material there is to
  read and how much has been studied
• Teacher knows what has been read and can assess
  accordingly

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Experiment in Online Extensive Reading

• Object
• 1) to have students read material of their own
  choice
• 2) not to waste time searching
• 3) to provide a mechanism for the students track
  their reading
• a) for review the material if desired and,
• b) for proof of what they had read.

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Student Comments - 1

• I think online reading is good way, but it is
  hard to look for interesting article. So, in main
  page, link many interesting homepages please,
  because I was disappointed and gave up when I
  could not find an article.
• I don't have computer at my house so it's not
  convenient to do this on computer. If we do it on
  paper, we can read materials wherever we want,
  on the bus or train, or in the bed before going
  to sleep. I think paper is better.

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Student Comments - 2

• I don't like On line reading. The eyes become
  very tired with facing to the screen. But On
  line reading is very convenient since I can read
  where there is a computer. I can read at the own
  pace.
• I think the system we're now doing is OK, but I
  don't have computer in my house, and it's hard
  for me to find time to use a computer at school.
  These are negative points of this system. People
  who has computer at home and be able to connect
  internet has advantage than people who don't
  have, like me.

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Student Comments - 3

• The bad points about to read on the computer is
  first, the computer room is noisy. It influenced
  to my concentration. Second, the available
  computer room is limited. And the time is
  limited. I have many classes and belong to club.
  It starts on 430. So, I can't go to the room.
  Third, the text is in the computer so I can't
  study it unless I stay in the computer room. It
  is hard for me to review.
• I dont like using a computer, so I am always
  irritated. But I try to do it because I think
  this way of learning is useful for me.

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The Big Trade-Off

• Student's freedom to choose material
• Time available for individual guidance

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HTTP//www.kyoto-su.ac.jp/trobb/index.html

• or simply search for
• Tom Robb, Kyoto