Reading Comprehension through Summarization of Narrative Stories: An Action Research Study

Abstract

This study focused on implementing summarization as a strategy to enhance reading comprehension of narrative stories. It involved 33 participants who had different English levels proficiency: 15 elementary, 10 pre-intermediate and 8 intermediate level. Taking into account the participants’ English proficiency, they had to read and summarize seven stories implemented during a period of 25 pedagogical hours. The quantitative instruments were pre-post survey, pre-post-test and pre-post checklist while qualitative instruments were “Time to reflect” template and an interview. Regarding the pre-post reading test, participants took two different passages (i and i+1). The results evidenced a p-value of 0.021 on pre-post-test i and 0.000 on pre-post-test i+1. Fractioned results displayed that elementary, pre-intermediate and intermediate level scored a p-value of 0.014, 0.024 and 0,388 on pre-post reading test i and a p-value of 0.000, 0.034 and 0.776 on pre-test i+1 respectively. Furthermore, outcomes demonstrated participants perceived summarization significantly helped them to increase their reading comprehension. It is concluded that summarization strategy seems to be plausible to improve English reading comprehension, especially applied with elementary levels and with the consideration of the i+1 principles