Reading to Learn (R2L) is a widely used pedagogy in numerous countries. However, most studies on R2L pedagogy focused on teaching English as a second language. Chinese is a Sino-Tibetan language that adopts a nonalphabetical orthography, and only a few studies have discussed the application of R2L pedagogy in teaching Chinese as a second language. To fill this gap, a quasi-experimental study was adopted to explore the effectiveness of R2L pedagogy in improving the performance of ethnic minority students in Hong Kong in terms of Chinese composition. Four teachers and 103 students from two middle schools were invited to participate in the study, which lasted for three months. The hypothesized positive effects on increased student writing performance in the explanatory genre were demonstrated via empirical data. Moreover, R2L pedagogy improved the students’ awareness of the importance of incorporating various stages and details when writing essays. Student participation considerably increased with additional support from peers and teachers. However, teachers encounter three challenges in implementing R2L pedagogy. First, they must possess a basic understanding of systemic functional linguistic theory and R2L pedagogy before designing the curriculum. Second, full participation might conflict with the limited teaching time during the implementation of R2L pedagogy. Third, teachers must deal with students’ various learning needs due to the latter’s diverse language levels and backgrounds. The practical implications of this study have also been discussed.
Published in | International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 7, Issue 5) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14 |
Page(s) | 202-212 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Reading to Learn Pedagogy, Second Language Acquisition, Ethical Minority Students, Writing
[1] | Hyon, S. (2002). Genre and ESL reading: A classroom study. In A. M. John (Ed.), Genre in the classroom: Multiple perspectives (pp. 3-13). Mahwah, MJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. |
[2] | Johns, A. M. (2002). Genre and ESL/EFL composition instruction. In B. Kroll (Ed.), Exploring the dynamics of second language writing. New York: Cambridge University Press. |
[3] | Martin J. R. (2009). Genre and language learning: A special semiotic perspective. Linguistics and Education, 20 (1), 10-21. doi: 10. 1016/j.linged.2009. 01.003. |
[4] | Halliday, M. A. K., & Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (1999). Construing experience through meaning: A language-based approach to cognition. New York: Continuum. |
[5] | Halliday, M. A. K. (1994). An introduction to functional grammar (2nd Ed.), London: Edward Arnold. |
[6] | Belcher, D. (2004). Trends in teaching English for specific purposes. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 24, 165-186. doi: 10.1017/S026719050400008X. |
[7] | Byrnes, H. (2009). Emergent L2 German writing ability in a curricular context: A longitudinal study of grammatical metaphor. Linguistics and Education, 20 (1), 50-66. doi: 10. 1016/j.linged. 2009.01.005. |
[8] | Christie, F. (2002). Classroom discourse analysis: A functional perspective. London: Continuum. |
[9] | Cheng, A. (2008a). Analyzing genre exemplars in preparation for writing: The case of an L2 graduate student in ESP genre-based instructional framework of academic literacy. Applied Linguistics, 29 (1), 50-71. doi: 10.1093/applin/amm021. |
[10] | Cheng, A. (2008b). Individualized engagement with genre in academic literacy tasks. English for Specific Purposes, 27 (4), 387-411. doi: 10. 1016/j.esp.2008.05.001. |
[11] | Dovey, T. (2010). Facilitating writing from sources: A focus on both process and product. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 9 (1), 45-60. doi: 10.1016/j.jeap. 2009.11.005. |
[12] | Hyland, K. (2007). Genre pedagogy: Language, literacy and L2 writing instruction. Journal of Second Language Writing, 16, 148-164. doi: 10.1016/j. jslw.2007.07.005. |
[13] | Johns, A. M. (2008). Genre awareness for the novice academic student: An ongoing quest. Language Teaching, 41 (2), 237-252. doi: 10.1017/S0261444807004892. |
[14] | Martin, J. R., & Rose, D. (2008). Genre relations: Mapping culture. London: Equinox. |
[15] | Paltridge, B. (2004). Academic writing. Language Teaching, 37 (2), 87-105. doi: 10.1017/S0261444804002216. |
[16] | Shum, M. S. K., Tsung, L., Ki, W. W., & Lam, M. (2010). Assessing Chinese: For teaching Chinese as a second language education and research. Volume II. Hong Kong: Centre for Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research, Faculty of Education, the University of Hong Kong. |
[17] | Tardy, C. (2009). Building genre knowledge. West Lafayette, IN: Parlor Press. |
[18] | Yasuda, S. (2011). Genre-based tasks in foreign language writing: Developing writers’ genre awareness, linguistic knowledge, and writing competence. Journal of Second Language Writing, 20 (2), 111-133. doi: 10.1016/j.jslw.2011.03.001 |
[19] | Rose, D., & Martin J. R. (2012). Learning to Write, Reading to learn: Genre. Knowledge and Pedagogy in the Sydney School. London: Equinox. doi: 10.1515/eujal-2017-0008. |
[20] | Martin, J. R. (1999). Mentoring semogenesis: ‘genre-based’ literacy pedagogy. In F. Christie (Ed.), Pedagogy and the shaping of consciousness: Linguistic and social processes (pp. 123-155). London: Continuum. |
[21] | Rose, D. (2011). Beyond literacy: Building an integrated pedagogic genre. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 34 (1), 81-97. |
[22] | Johns, A. M. (1997). Text, role and context: Developing academic literacies. New York: Cambridge University Press. |
[23] | McRae, D., Ainsworth, G., Cumming, J., Hughes, P., Mackay, T. Price, K., Rowland, M., Warhurst, J., Woods, D. & Zbar, V. (2000). What has worked, and will again: the IESIP Strategic Results Projects. Canberra: Australian Curriculum Studies Association. |
[24] | Acevedo, C. (2010). A Report on School-based Action Research: Will the implementation of Reading to Learn in Stockholm Schools Accelerate Literacy Learning for Disadvantaged Students and Close the Achievement Gap? Stockholm: Multilingual Research Institute, Stockholm Education Administration. |
[25] | Rose, D. (2018). Languages of Schooling: Embedding literacy learning with genre-based pedagogy. European Journal of Applied Linguistics, 6 (1), 31-57. doi: 10.1515/eujal-2017-0008. |
[26] | Huang, J. C. (2014). Learning to write for publication in English through genre-based pedagogy: A case in Taiwan. System, 45, 175-186. doi: 10. 1016/j. system.2014.05.010. |
[27] | Tuan, L. T. (2011). Teaching Writing through Genre-based Approach. Theory & Practice in Language Studies, 1 (11), 1471-1478. doi: 10. 4304/tpls.1.11.1471-1478. |
[28] | Belcher, D. (1994). The apprenticeship model to advanced academic literacy: Graduate students and their mentors. English for Specific Purposes, 13 (1), 23-34. doi: 10.1016/0889-4906(94)90022-1. |
[29] | Cheng, A. (2006). Understanding learners and learning in ESP genre-based writing instruction. English for Specific Purposes, 25 (1), 76-89. doi: 10. 1016/j.esp.2005.07.002. |
[30] | Cheng, A. (2007). Transferring generic features and retexturing genre awareness: Understanding writing performance in the ESP genre-based literacy framework. English for Specific Purpose, 26 (3), 287-307. doi: 10.1016/j.esp.2006.12.002. |
[31] | Flowerdew, J. (2000). Discourse community, legitimate peripheral participation, and the nonnative-English-speaking scholar. TESOL Quarterly, 34 (1), 127-150. doi: 10.2307/3588099. |
[32] | Tardy, C. (2005). “It’s like a story”: Rhetorical knowledge development in advanced academic literacy. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 4 (4), 325-338. doi: 10.1016/j.jeap.2005.07.005. |
[33] | Tardy, C. (2006). Researching first and second language genre learning: A comparative review and a look ahead. Journal of Second Language Writing, 15 (2), 79-101. doi: 10.1016/j.jslw.2006.04.003. |
[34] | Shum, M. S. K., Shi, D., & Tai, C. P. (2016). The effectiveness of using 'reading to learn, learning to write' pedagogy in teaching Chinese to non-Chinese speaking students in Hong Kong. International Journal of Language Studies, 10 (3), 43-60. |
[35] | Shum, M. S. K., Tai, C. P., & Shi, D. (2018). Using ‘Reading to Learn’ (R2L) pedagogy to teach discussion genre to non-Chinese-speaking students in Hong Kong. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 21 (2), 237-247. doi: 10.1080/13670050.2016.1159653. |
[36] | Legislative Council (2018). Replies to Initial Written Questions Raised by Finance Committee Members in Examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2017-18. Hong Kong: Finance Committee, Legislative Council. |
[37] | Census and Statistics Department (2017). Hong Kong 2016 Population By-census- Thematic Report: Ethnic Minorities. Hong Kong: Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Special Administration Region. |
[38] | Troia, G. A. (2006). Writing instruction for students with learning disabilities. In C. A. MacArthur, S. Graham, & J. Fitzgerald (Eds.), Handbook of writing research (pp. 324-336). New York: The Guilford Press. |
[39] | Zhang, Q. Y., Tsung, L., Cruickshank, K., Ki, W. W. & Shum, M. S. K. (2011). South Asian students' educational experience and attainment: Learning Chinese as a second/ additional language in Hong Kong. In L. Tsung, & K. Cruickshank (Eds.), Teaching and learning Chinese as global contexts (pp. 63-80). London: Continuum. |
[40] | Beach, R. (1992). Experimental and descriptive research methods in composition. In G. Kirsch & P. A. Sullivan (Eds.), Methods and methodology in composition research. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois UP. |
[41] | Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). Interviews: Learning the craft of qualitative research. California, US: SAGE. |
[42] | Darling-Hammond, L. (2016). Research on teaching and teacher education and its influences on policy and practice. Educational Researcher, 45 (2), 83-91. doi: 10.3102/0013189X16639597. |
[43] | Crane, C. (2006). Modeling a genre-based foreign language curriculum: Staging advanced L2 learning. In H. Byrnes (Ed.), Advanced language learning: The contribution of Halliday and Vygotsky (pp. 227-245). London: Continuum. |
[44] | Caffarel, A. (2006). Learning advanced French through SFL: Learning SFL in French. In H. Byrnes (Ed.), Advanced language learning: The contribution of Halliday and Vygotsky (pp. 204-224). London: Continuum. |
[45] | Ryshina-Pankova, M. V. (2006). Creating textual worlds in advanced learning writing: The role of complex theme. In H. Byrnes (Ed.), Advanced language learning: The contribution of Halliday and Vygotsky (pp. 164-183). London: Continuum. |
[46] | Teruya, K. (2006). Grammar as a resource for the construction of language logic for advanced language learning in Japanese. In H. Byrnes (Ed.), Advanced language learning: The contribution of Halliday and Vygotsky (pp. 109-133). London: Continuum. doi: 10.1016/j.linged.2009. 01.008. |
[47] | Shum, M. S., Gao, F., Tsung, L., & Ki, W. W. (2011). South Asian students’ Chinese language learning in Hong Kong: Motivations and strategies. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 32 (3), 285-297. |
[48] | Teruya, K. (2009). Grammar as a gateway into discourse: A systemic functional approach to subject, theme, and logic. Linguistics and Education, 20 (1), 67-79. doi: 10.1016/j.linged.2009.01.008. |
[49] | Avalos, B. (2011). Teacher professional development in teaching and teacher education over ten years. Teaching and teacher education, 27 (1), 10-20. doi: 10.1016/j.tate.2010.08.007. |
APA Style
Xian Han Huang, Mark Shiu Kee Shum, Chung Pui Tai, Dan Shi. (2019). Using Reading to Learn Pedagogy to Improve Chinese Writing among Ethnic Minority Students in Hong Kong: A Quasi-experimental Study. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 7(5), 202-212. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14
ACS Style
Xian Han Huang; Mark Shiu Kee Shum; Chung Pui Tai; Dan Shi. Using Reading to Learn Pedagogy to Improve Chinese Writing among Ethnic Minority Students in Hong Kong: A Quasi-experimental Study. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2019, 7(5), 202-212. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14
AMA Style
Xian Han Huang, Mark Shiu Kee Shum, Chung Pui Tai, Dan Shi. Using Reading to Learn Pedagogy to Improve Chinese Writing among Ethnic Minority Students in Hong Kong: A Quasi-experimental Study. Int J Lang Linguist. 2019;7(5):202-212. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14
@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14, author = {Xian Han Huang and Mark Shiu Kee Shum and Chung Pui Tai and Dan Shi}, title = {Using Reading to Learn Pedagogy to Improve Chinese Writing among Ethnic Minority Students in Hong Kong: A Quasi-experimental Study}, journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics}, volume = {7}, number = {5}, pages = {202-212}, doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20190705.14}, abstract = {Reading to Learn (R2L) is a widely used pedagogy in numerous countries. However, most studies on R2L pedagogy focused on teaching English as a second language. Chinese is a Sino-Tibetan language that adopts a nonalphabetical orthography, and only a few studies have discussed the application of R2L pedagogy in teaching Chinese as a second language. To fill this gap, a quasi-experimental study was adopted to explore the effectiveness of R2L pedagogy in improving the performance of ethnic minority students in Hong Kong in terms of Chinese composition. Four teachers and 103 students from two middle schools were invited to participate in the study, which lasted for three months. The hypothesized positive effects on increased student writing performance in the explanatory genre were demonstrated via empirical data. Moreover, R2L pedagogy improved the students’ awareness of the importance of incorporating various stages and details when writing essays. Student participation considerably increased with additional support from peers and teachers. However, teachers encounter three challenges in implementing R2L pedagogy. First, they must possess a basic understanding of systemic functional linguistic theory and R2L pedagogy before designing the curriculum. Second, full participation might conflict with the limited teaching time during the implementation of R2L pedagogy. Third, teachers must deal with students’ various learning needs due to the latter’s diverse language levels and backgrounds. The practical implications of this study have also been discussed.}, year = {2019} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Using Reading to Learn Pedagogy to Improve Chinese Writing among Ethnic Minority Students in Hong Kong: A Quasi-experimental Study AU - Xian Han Huang AU - Mark Shiu Kee Shum AU - Chung Pui Tai AU - Dan Shi Y1 - 2019/08/28 PY - 2019 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14 DO - 10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14 T2 - International Journal of Language and Linguistics JF - International Journal of Language and Linguistics JO - International Journal of Language and Linguistics SP - 202 EP - 212 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-0221 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20190705.14 AB - Reading to Learn (R2L) is a widely used pedagogy in numerous countries. However, most studies on R2L pedagogy focused on teaching English as a second language. Chinese is a Sino-Tibetan language that adopts a nonalphabetical orthography, and only a few studies have discussed the application of R2L pedagogy in teaching Chinese as a second language. To fill this gap, a quasi-experimental study was adopted to explore the effectiveness of R2L pedagogy in improving the performance of ethnic minority students in Hong Kong in terms of Chinese composition. Four teachers and 103 students from two middle schools were invited to participate in the study, which lasted for three months. The hypothesized positive effects on increased student writing performance in the explanatory genre were demonstrated via empirical data. Moreover, R2L pedagogy improved the students’ awareness of the importance of incorporating various stages and details when writing essays. Student participation considerably increased with additional support from peers and teachers. However, teachers encounter three challenges in implementing R2L pedagogy. First, they must possess a basic understanding of systemic functional linguistic theory and R2L pedagogy before designing the curriculum. Second, full participation might conflict with the limited teaching time during the implementation of R2L pedagogy. Third, teachers must deal with students’ various learning needs due to the latter’s diverse language levels and backgrounds. The practical implications of this study have also been discussed. VL - 7 IS - 5 ER -