Literacy motivation of middle school ELLs
Beginning English Language Learners (ELLs) value reading more than intermediate
and advanced ELLs, says a small study on the literacy motivation of middle
school students. ELL students also reported a strong interest in reading and
writing activities outside of school in which they served as both learners and
teachers.
"Students who perceive academic literacy tasks as difficult or lacking in
value may well find value (and feel competent in) the reading and writing they
do outside of school in a family or community setting," the authors write.
This wide array of literacy activities within the family and the community
included helping family members with academic literacy activities such as
helping parents study for exams, tutoring a relative in English or another
language and helping parents communicate with employers. Several students said
they helped parents or guardians with translation, for example, in getting a
passport or to communicate with teachers at school conferences.
Most students said they enjoyed read-alouds by the teacher in class. They
found reading to be easiest in their English for Speakers of Languages (ESOL)
classes and most difficult in classes such as social studies and science where a
common text was used. Students also said that history and science were difficult
because of vocabulary and unfamiliar topics.
Participants in the study were 27 boys and 23 girls enrolled in 3 ESOL
classes in grades 6, 7, and 8. The students responded to a 20-question survey on
literacy motivation. The survey was modified version of the Motivation to Read
Profile (Gambrell et al., 1996) that was adapted for adolescents. Students'
answers were categorized into 2 separate scores: Self concept as a reader and
value of reading. In addition, 8 students with intermediate and advanced skills
in speaking English were interviewed by the researchers.
The survey was developed in part using expectancy value theory, which
indicates that students who place a higher value on a particular type of
learning (such as reading) and expect to be successful will likely have higher
motivation and achievement than those who place a lower value on that type of
learning and/or have a lower expectation of their own success.
"Literacy Motivation and School/Non-School Literacies Among Students
Enrolled in a Middle-School ESOL Program," by Elizabeth Sturtevant and Grace
Kim, Literacy Research and Instruction, Volume 49, 2010, pps. 68-85. Current research briefs
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