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. This innovation was implemented to improve students' reading comprehension. It involved 12 participants who had different English levels proficiency: 4 elementary, 2 pre-intermediate and 6 intermediate level. Taking into accountthe participants’ English proficiency, they had to read and summarize different stories implemented during a period of 25 pedagogical hours. To help students of the Reading and Writing course to improve these aspects, summaries of narratives texts were implemented. The action research included quantitative instruments that were pre survey, pre post-test and pre checklist while qualitative instruments were learning logs developed in a template called “Time to reflect”. Participants completed two different quantitative instruments: pre and posttests, pre survey of the innovation. The participants were very animated from the beginning until the end of the innovation. This study is aimed at the authorities and teachers of English as a foreign language from other institutions who are interested in improving their reading comprehension results and motivate a skill that students often find difficult to work.