Reading Comprehension through Skimming, Scanning, and Parts of Speech

Abstract

This research implemented skimming, scanning, and the classification of vocabulary into parts of speech through Google sheets to improve reading comprehension. The research was applied at a public school in Quito. The sample was 29 students of tenth basic education at an A1 English level. This action research was supported by qualitative and quantitative instruments. Skimming and scanning strategies were scaffolded and practiced during the investigation with different activities to support the study. Results show that the impact of this innovation was Cohen d = 1.89 which indicates a high impact in learning. After applying the innovation, 70% of the students improved their reading comprehension as evidenced in pre and post-test. This result was supported by the changes observed during the process. Classifying “parts of speech” in a shared sheet facilitated the retention of words. This was reflected in the mini-quizzes students completed. These results demonstrate that classifying parts of speech, reading strategies, and the use of technological tools can improve L2 reading comprehension and students’ overall proficiency.