Reading and Listening in English Language Learning: A Critical Study of Cognition and Metacognition

Mohammed Al Sobaihi

Abstract


This paper critically examines research in the field of cognitive and metacognitive strategies in teaching/learning reading and listening in the English language. In the FEL context, a thorough review of previous major studies has been conducted to determine the extent to which English learners benefit from reading and listening via using the said strategies. The results confirm the effectiveness of cognitive and metacognitive strategies in teaching/learning reading and listening skills and it is recommended that the educational policymakers include them in designing future pedagogical EFL programs.

Keywords


Cognition, Metacognition, Reading, Listening

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abdelhafez, A. M. (2006). The Effect of a Suggested Training Program in Some Metacognitive Language Learning Strategies on Developing Listening and Reading Comprehension of University EFL Students (unpublished master thesis). Minia University: Egypt.

Aghaie, R., & Zhang, L. J. (2012). Effects of explicit instruction in cognitive and metacognitive reading strategies on Iranian EFL students’ reading performance and strategy transfer. Instructional Science, 40(6), 1063-1081. doi.org/10.1007/s11251-011-9202-5

Al Khatib, A. Z. A. (2013). Language learning strategies of EFL students in the University General Requirements Unit in the United Arab Emirates University (unpublished doctoral dissertation). United Arab Emirates University: UAE.

Al-Hajji, B. A., & Shuqair, K. M. (2014). A systematic review of using literature for the young learners in an EFL classroom. English Language Teaching, 7(8), 75. doi:10.5539/elt.v7n8p75.

Almasi, J. F. (2003). Teaching strategic process in reading. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Baghaei, P., & Ravand, H. (2015). A cognitive processing model of reading comprehension in English as a foreign language using the linear logistic test model. Learning and Individual Differences, 43, 100-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2015.09.001

Baker, L., & Brown, A. (1984). Metacognitive skills in reading. In P. D. Pearson, M. Kamil, P. Mosenthal & R. Barr (Eds.), Handbook of reading research (Vol. 1, pp. 353-394). New York: Longman.

BalıkcıoĿlu, G., & Efe, T. (2016). The Role of Metacognitive Activities on University Level Preparatory Class EFL Learners Reading Comprehension. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 232, 294-299. doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.10.024

Barrot, J. S. (2016). ESL Learners’ Use of Reading Strategies Across Different Text Types. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 25(5-6), 883-892. doi.org/10.1007/s40299-016-0313-2

Baumeister, R. F. (2013). Writing a literature review. In M. J. Prinstein & M. D. Patterson (Eds.), The portable mentor: An expert guide to a successful career in psychology (pp. 119-132; 2nd ed.). New York: Springer Science+ Business Media.

Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1997). Writing narrative literature reviews. Review of General Psychology, 3, 311-320. doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.1.3.311

Bentahar, A. (2006). Can ESL teachers teach metacognitive strategies? (Master thesis). Online Submission.

Bidabadi, F. S., & Yamat, H. (2011). The Relationship between Listening Strategies Used by Iranian EFL Freshman University Students and Their Listening Proficiency Levels. English Language Teaching, 4(1), 26-32.

Biehler, R., & Snowman, J. (1993). Psychology applied to teaching. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Brown, H. D. (2000). Principles of language learning and teaching (4th Ed.). White Plains, NY: Addison Wesley Longman.

Cárdenas-Claros, M. S., & Gruba, P. (2009). Help options in CALL: A systematic review. CALICO Journal, 27(1), 69-90.

Carlile, O., & Jordan, A. (2005). It works in practice but will it work in theory? The theoretical underpinnings of pedagogy. In S. Moore, G. O’Neill, & B. McMullin, Emerging Issues in the Practice of University Learning and Teaching. Dublin: AISHE

Chamot, A. (1987). The learning strategies of ESL students. In A. Wenden & J. Rubin (Eds.), Learner strategies in language learning (pp. 71-83). New York: Prentice Hall.

Chamot, A., Barnhardt, S., El-Dinary, P. B., & Robbins, J. (1999). The learning strategies handbook. White Plains, NY: Addison Wesley Longman.

Cohen, A. D. (1998). Strategies in learning and using a second language. London: Longman.

Davis, K. A. (1995). Qualitative theory and methods in applied linguistics research. TESOL Quarterly, 29(3), 427-453. DOI: 10.2307/3588070.

Davoudi, M., & Sadeghi, N. A. (2015). A Systematic Review of Research on Questioning as a High-level Cognitive Strategy. English Language Teaching, 8(10), 76. doi:10.5539/elt.v8n10p76.

Eneza EPPI (2010). Center for conducting systematic review. Institute of Education, University of London.

Flavell, J. (1976) Metacognitive aspects of problem solving in L. B. Resnick (Ed.), The nature of intelligence Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum Publisher

Flavell, J. (1979). Metacognition and cognitive monitoring: A new area of cognitive development inquiry. American Psychologist, 34(10), 906–91. doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.34.10.906.

Ghaniabadi, S. (2015). State-of-the-Art Article: A Systematic Review of Discourse Analysis in English as a Foreign Language: Focus on Iranian Context. Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods, 5(2), 570.

Goh, C. (2000). A cognitive perspective on language learners’ listening comprehension problems. System, 28(1), 55-75. doi.org/10.1016/S0346-251X(99)00060-3

Goh, C. (2008). Metacognitive instruction for second language listening development: Theory, practice and research implications. RELC Journal, 39, 188–213. doi.org/10.1177/0033688208092184.

Griffiths, C. (2003). Patterns of language learning strategy use. System, 31(3), 367-383. doi.org/10.1016/S0346-251X(03)00048-4.

Gursoy, E. (2004). Investigating language learning strategies of EFL children for the development of a taxonomy Accessed on 5th February 2017 at http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1081808.pdf

Harputlu, L., & Ceylan, E. (2014). The effects of motivation and metacognitive strategy use on EFL listening proficiency. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 158, 124-131. Doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.12.056.

Heigham, J., & Croker, R. (Eds.). (2009). Qualitative research in applied linguistics: A practical introduction. Springer.

Hong-Nam, K., & Page, L. (2014). Investigating metacognitive awareness and reading strategy use of EFL Korean university students. Reading Psychology, 35(3), 195-220. Doi.org/10.1080/02702711.2012.675418

Hudson, T. (2007). Teaching second language reading. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Israel, S. E. (2007). Using metacognitive assessments to create individualized reading instruction. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

Iwai, Y. (2011). The effects of metacognitive reading strategies: Pedagogical implications for EFL/ESL teachers. The Reading Matrix, 11(2), 150-159.

Kafipour, R., & Naveh, M. H. (2011). Vocabulary learning strategies and their contribution to reading comprehension of EFL undergraduate students in Kerman province. European Journal of Social Sciences, 23(4), 626-647.

Kartal, G. (2013). The effect of cognitive and metacognitive strategies on self-efficacy beliefs of Freshman EFL students. International conference ICT for Language Learning 6th Ed.

Liu, M., & Liu, Z. (2015). An investigation of Chinese university EFL learner's foreign language reading anxiety, reading strategy use and reading comprehension performance. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 1, 65-85.

Maasum, T. N. R. T. M., & Maarof, N. (2012). Empowering ESL readers with metacognitive reading strategies. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 69, 1250-1258. Doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.12.058

Macaro, E., Handley, Z., & Walter, C. (2012). A systematic review of CALL in English as a second language: Focus on primary and secondary education. Language Teaching, 45(01), 1-43. Doi.org/10.1017/S0261444811000395

Maftoon, P., & Fakhri Alamdari, E. (2016). Exploring the Effect of Metacognitive Strategy Instruction on Metacognitive Awareness and Listening Performance Through a Process-Based Approach. International Journal of Listening, 1-20. Doi.org/10.1080/10904018.2016.1250632

Malekzadeh, M., & Ghafoori, N. (2016). The comparative effect of teaching three cognitive strategies of elaboration, note-taking, and resourcing on pre-intermediate Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension. Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods, 6(8), 70A. DOI: 10.26655/mjltm.2016.11.2

Moghadam, M. B., Ghanizadeh, A., & Pazhouhesh, M. (2016). Scrutinizing Listening Strategies among Iranian EFL University Students. International Journal of Educational Investigations, 3(3), 11-22.

Moghadam, M. Y., & Rad, N. S. S. (2015). On the Effect of Negotiated Metacognitive Assessments on Improving Listening Comprehension: A Case of Iranian EFL Learners. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 4(3), 212-218. Doi:10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.4n.3p.212.

Ngo, N. T. H. (2015). Some insights into listening strategies of learners of English as a foreign language in Vietnam. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 28(3), 311-326. Doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2015.1080721.

Nunan, D. (1999). Second language teaching and learning. Boston: Heinle & Heinle.

Oxford, R. (1990). Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. Boston: Heinle & Heinle. The Reading Matrix, 14(5), 314-336.

Ozek, Y & Civelek, M. (2006). A study on the use cognitive reading strategies by ELT students. Asian EFL Journal, Professional Teachers Articles, 14(1), 1-26.

Pammu, A., Amir, Z., & Maasum, M. (2014). Metacognitive reading strategies of less proficient tertiary learners: A case study of EFL learners at a public university in Makassar, Indonesia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 118, 357-364. Doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.02.049.

Perry, A., & Hammond, N. (2002). Systematic reviews: The experiences of a PhD student. Psychology Learning & Teaching, 2(1), 32-35. Doi.org/10.2304/plat.2002.2.1.32

Pour, A. V., & Ghanizadeh, A. (2017). Validating the Persian Version of Metacognitive Awareness Inventory and Scrutinizing the Role of Its Components in IELTS Academic Reading Achievement. Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods, 7(3), 46. Doi.org/10.12973/iji.2017.10314a

Pressley, M. (2002). Metacognition and self-regulated comprehension. In A. E. Farstrup & S. J. Samuels (Eds.), What research has to say about reading instruction (pp. 291-309). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

Pressley, M., & Afflerbach, P. (1995). Verbal protocols of reading: The nature of constructively responsive reading. Hillsdale, NJ: The Erlbaum Group.

Rahimi, M., & Katal, M. (2013). The impact of metacognitive instruction on EFL learners’ listening comprehension and oral language proficiency. Journal of Teaching Language Skills, 32(2), 69-90. Doi:10.22099/JTLS.2013.1555.

Rahimirad, M. (2014). The impact of metacognitive strategy instruction on the listening performance of university students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 98, 1485-1491. Doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.569.

Raoofi, S., Chan, S. H., Mukundan, J., & Rashid, S. M. (2013). Metacognition and second/foreign language learning. English Language Teaching, 7(1), 36. Doi:10.5539/elt.v7n1p36.

Rasouli, M., Mollakhan, K., & Karbalaei, A. (2013). The effect of metacognitive listening strategy training on listening comprehension in Iranian EFL context. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 2(1), 115.

Rivera‐Mills, S. V., & Plonsky, L. (2007). Empowering students with language learning strategies: A critical review of current issues. Foreign Language Annals, 40(3), 535-548. Doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-9720.2007.tb02874.x

Rother, E. T. (2007). Systematic literature review X narrative review. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem, 20(2), v-vi.

Sadeghi, K., & Langhroudy, E. P. (2012). General and Specific Cognitive/Metacognitive Reading Strategies Used by Field-Dependent/Independent Iranian EFL Learners. Dil ve Edebiyat Egitimi Dergisi, 1(3), 17.

Sayfouri, N. (2014). An alternative method of literature review: Systematic review in English language teaching research. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 98, 1693-1697. Doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.595.

Singhal, M. (2001). Reading proficiency, reading strategies, metacognitive awareness, L2 readers. The Reading Matrix, 1(1), 1-23.

Sun, L. (2013). The effects of meta-cognitive Learning strategies on English Learning. Theory and practice in Language studies, vol.3, pp 2004-2009 Academy Publisher. Doi:10.4304/tpls.3.11.2004-2009.

Tabibian, M., & Heidari-Shahreza, M. A. (2016). The Effect of Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategy Use on Iranian EFL Learners' Receptive Skills. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Language Research, 3(6), 67-79.

Tabeei, S. N., Tabrizi, A. R., & Ahmadi, G. (2013). The effect of metacognitive strategies instruction on listening comprehension of Iranian EFL learners: Focusing on gender. International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World, 4(4), 13-29. Doi:10.5539/ijel.v4n2p88.

Taghinezhad, A., & Sadighi, F. (2017). Investigating the impact of teaching listening comprehension strategies on the improvement of listening comprehension ability of Iranian EFL learners. Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods, 7(1), 168.

Tavakoli, H. (2014). The Effectiveness of Metacognitive Strategy Awareness in Reading Comprehension: The Case of Iranian University EFL Students. Online Submission.

Tavakoli, H. (2014). The effectiveness of metacognitive strategy awareness in reading comprehension: The case of Iranian university EFL students. Reading Matrix, 14(2), 314-336.

Vahdany, F., Akbari, E., Shahrestani, F., & Askari, A. (2016). The relationship between cognitive and metacognitive strategy use and EFL listening test performance. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 6(2), 385. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0602.22.

Van Klaveren, C., & De Wolf, I. (2013). Systematic Reviews in Education Research: When Do Effect Studies Provide Evidence? (No. 46).

Vandergrift, L., & Goh, C. (2012). Teaching and learning second language listening: Metacognition in action. New York, NY: Routledge.

Vandergrift, L., & Tafaghodtari, H. M. (2010). Teaching L2 students how to listen does make a difference: An empirical study. Language Learning, 60, 470–497. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9922.2009.00559.x

Wang, W. (2016). Learning to Listen: The Impact of a Metacognitive Approach to Listening Instruction. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 25(1), 79-88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-015-0235-4

Wang, Y., & Treffers-Daller, J. (2017). Explaining listening comprehension among L2 learners of English: The contribution of general language proficiency, vocabulary knowledge and metacognitive awareness. System, 65, 139-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2016.12.013.

Wenden, A. L. (1987). Conceptual Background and Utility. In A. Wenden, & J. Rubin, Learner Strategies in Language Learning. London: Prentice-Hall International (UK) Ltd.

XUE, S. J. (2016). A Review of Selected Research into Chinese EFL Learner Strategies over the Last Two Decades. DEStech Transactions on Social Science, Education and Human Science, (seme). DOI

12783/dtssehs/seme2016/5411

Yaghoubi, S., Seyyedi, F. (2017). Listening Strategies Used by Iranian EFL Learners In Listening Comprehension Of TOEFL Academic Lectures: Focus On Gender. Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods (MJLTM), 7(4), 327-340.

Zafarani, P., & Kabgani, S. (2014). Summarization Strategy Training and Reading Comprehension of Iranian ESP Learners. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 98, 1959-1965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.629.

Zanjani, B. A., & Izadpanah, S. (2016). The Impact of Listening Strategies on Improving Learners’ Listening Skill in Iran. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 7(6), 1089-1096. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0706.04.

Zare, P. (2012). Language learning strategies among EFL/ESL learners: A review of literature. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2(5), 162-169.

Zare-ee, A. (2007). The relationship between cognitive and meta-cognitive strategy use and EFL reading achievement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2(5), 105-119.

Zhang, L., Goh, C. C., & Kunnan, A. J. (2014). Analysis of test takers’ metacognitive and cognitive strategy use and EFL reading test performance: A multi-sample SEM approach. Language Assessment Quarterly, 11(1), 76-102. https:// doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2013.853770

Zhussupova, R., & Kazbekova, M. (2016). Metacognitive strategies as points in teaching reading comprehension. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 228, 593-600. Doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.07.091.

Tavakoli, H. (2014). The effectiveness of metacognitive strategy awareness in reading comprehension: The case of Iranian university EFL students. Reading Matrix, 14(2), 314-335.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.9n.2p.53

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2012-2023 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD

International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature

To make sure that you can receive messages from us, please add the journal emails into your e-mail 'safe list'. If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox', check your 'bulk mail' or 'junk mail' folders.