Preparing Students for

Reading Comprehension Tests

An Action Research Project Proposal

Dr. Nellie Deutsch

University of Phoenix
2005

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 Action Research Project Proposal

The Problem Statement

Grade nine EFL students lack the skills to cope with
reading comprehension tests.

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Purpose
• Determine the causes
• Build a workable curriculum program
• Provide students with test taking techniques
• Improve student scores

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Background Description
• Population
• Work Setting
• Writer’s Role

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Problem Documentation
Two Surveys
• Online Questionnaires
Students
Parents
Teachers
• Offline Questionnaires
Students

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Survey Results
(Before Intervention)

QuestionPro Online Survey Program

http://www.questionpro.com/akira/ShowResults?id=161974

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Students: What thoughts do you have during the test?

I wish I had prepared myself better. 25.71%

I won't have enough time. 39.05%

I am doing great. 20.95%

I wish I could be somewhere else 14.29%

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Teachers: ESL/EFL students are anxious during

reading comprehension tests in English.

Strongly Agree 34.15%

Agree 45.85%
Undecided 8.29%
Disagree 8.78%
Strongly Disagree 2.93%

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Teachers: ____ of my ESL/EFL students

are/were anxious during reading comprehension
tests.
Most 31.03%
Some 36.55%
Many 25.52%
None 2.07%
A few 4.83%

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Parents: My daughter/son gets anxious when there

is reading comprehension test in school.
Strongly Agree 41.03%
Agree 17.95%
Neutral 23.08%
Disagree 18.38%
Strongly Disagree 2.56%

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Parents: Reading strategies would improve reading

comprehension in English.

Strongly Agree 70.27%

Agree 21.62%

Neutral 8.11%

Disagree 0.00%

Strongly Disagree 0.00%

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 Action Research Project Proposal

Teachers: ESL/EFL students would benefit from

relaxation exercises before reading comprehension
tests.

Strongly Agree 28.29%

Agree 37.07%
Undecided 27.80%
Disagree 3.90%
Strongly Disagree 2.93%

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Literature Review
Brief summary
• Problem
• Solution

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Solution Strategy
Reading Comprehension Test Taking Skills
12 Week Curriculum Program:
• Reading Strategies
• Test Taking and Relaxation Techniques

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Reading Strategies
• General Layout
 Paragraph: Introduction, body and conclusion
 Type of writing: letter, report, description, persuasion…
 Skimming and scanning: Numbers, capital letters

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Test Taking Techniques

• Relaxation Exercises
 Mindfulness: Present
 Breathing: Counting to 10
 Color Visualization and Chakras
 Self-talk: Positive affirmations

• Time
• Organization
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Results
Student scores before and after the 12-week implementation

80.15

57.3
Scores

Students

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Audience Feedback
• Questions
• Comments

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Recommendations
• Needs Assessment Survey
 Questionnaire on test taking anxiety
 Questionnaire on reading strategies

• Action research project

• Comparison of grades before and after test taking
and reading strategies curriculum program

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