Effect of the Scaffolded Reading Experience using a Graphic Novel on the English Reading Comprehension and Reading Motivation of Thai EFL students

Abstract

It would not be presumptuous to say that the younger generation is not reading at a sustained level.  Many people view sustained reading as overly time-consuming and unable to meet the instant gratification that social media so readily provides. Educators are embracing the reality that, as a consequence, students’ learning styles have also changed.  The present study investigates the effects of the Scaffolded Reading Experience (SRE) using a graphic novel on English reading comprehension and reading motivation of Thai EFL students.  This study employed the one-group, pre-test post-test design to collect quantitative data from an English reading comprehension test and reading motivation questionnaires, supplemented with qualitative data from student journals.  The sample consisted of twenty grade 10 Thai EFL students enrolled in an Intensive English course.  The research instruments included English reading comprehension pre/post-test, reading motivation questionnaires and students journals. It is found that the SRE using graphic novels improves students’ reading comprehension and reading motivation at a statistically significant level.  Evident also from the students’ journals was that students who improved significantly in reading comprehension scores seemed to develop intrinsic motivation towards reading.