Literacy development and self-concept of English second language learners: an exploratory study

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Date
2018-01
Authors
Van Rhyn, Anna Aletta
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: This work comprises an exploratory study concerning the literacy development of English Second Language (ESL) learners and the influence of their literacy skills on their self-concept. The present state of affairs concerning the poor quality of the literacy skills of especially the ESL learners in South Africa formed the starting point of this study. A review of theoretical perspectives underlying literacy development and self-concept provided the basis for the study. An empirical examination regarding the challenges faced by primary school ESL teachers assisted in identifying some of the important factors countering well-developed literacy skills of ESL learners. The research involved Grade 4 ESL learners in the Intermediate Phase who experience literacy backlogs. An intervention in the form of interactive storybook reading was developed and administered to an experimental group of Grade 4 ESL learners. Lastly, the interplay between self-concept and literacy achievement was examined. The summary and findings of each article are discussed in the following paragraphs: Article 1 explored the interrelationship between the intrinsic and extrinsic barriers to the development of adequate literacy skills of ESL learners. This article explored how Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory relates to the plight of the ESL learner within the South African education context. Scholastic and socioeconomic challenges characteristic of the scenario of the average learner in South Africa were discussed. In the light of the interplay between the different systems in the individual ESL learner’s life, the implications of Cummins’s Interdependence Theory on the literacy development of ESL learners were considered. The effect of ESL learning without a well-developed mother-tongue basis was scrutinized. The influence of the interaction between different intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the various systems surrounding a learner was addressed, in combination with the poor literacy in L2 due to the implications of Cummins’s Linguistic Interdependence Theory on the self-concept of ESL learners in South Africa. The Reciprocal Effects Model (REM) of self-concept posits that academic self-concept and achievement reinforce each other. The literature examined show strong interactions between Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Systems Theory, the Linguistic Interdependence Theory proposed by Cummins and the status of a person’s self-concept. The researcher thus argues that the interaction of intrinsic and extrinsic factors within the different systems wherein the ESL learner functions, in combination with the implications of Cummins’s theory, is likely to have an impact on the self-concept of ESL learners in South Africa. Article 2 determined and described the challenges that ESL teachers experience in their quest to create responsive literacy environments for ESL learners. The qualitative research design enabled the researcher to identify five overall themes posing as obstacles preventing ESL learners from optimal academic progression. It included the LOLT that is not the mother tongue of the learners, the gap between the curriculum of the language of learning and teaching in Grade 3 and Grade 4; disciplinary problems; self-concept and emotional problems; and the lack of time and structure to provide essential individual support to learners. English, as the LOLT for learners with another mother tongue proved to be not only a major challenge for teachers teaching ESL learners, but it also seemed to be the underlying cause for the poor literacy quality of many of South Africa’s ESL learners. The participating teachers agreed that literacy and associated academic problems had a negative effect on the self-concept and motivation of ESL learners. In this article, the importance of mother tongue education was emphasized by a theoretical study and verified by qualitative research. In the light of the variety of mother-tongue speakers in classrooms in South Africa, it is recommended that language supportive learning and translanguaging as teaching strategies in classrooms where the LOLT is not the mother tongue of the learners must be examined. In exploring the challenges ESL learners in South Africa face regarding literacy skills, Article 3 sought to determine the development of the literacy skills of an individual. The importance of emergent literacy skills in literacy development was highlighted. Phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics as components of language form the underlying structure of any language. Forthcoming from this foundation are the skills essential for the development of reading skills, including phonological awareness, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Based on the Sociocultural Learning Theory, a literacy intervention incorporating a wholelanguage approach in the form of storybook reading was applied to support the literacy development of the participating ESL learners. Literacy exercises accompanied the story reading to improve the word reading, reading fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension and spelling of these learners. Utilising an experimental pre-test/post-test research design, the results emphasize the value of interactive storybook reading in creating responsive literacy environments to develop the literacy skills of ESL learners. The findings from this study indicated a significant improvement in the literacy skills of the experimental group by taking the pre-test and the post-test measures into account. The scores for speed-reading improved from 56.57(pre-test) to 74.71 (post-test); for word reading it improved from 29.5 to 41.8; spelling scores improved from 17.33 to 23.90; the average scores for vocabulary improved from 12.54 to 17.19; and reading comprehension scores improved from 9.61 to 13.23. Article 4 explored the interplay between self-concept and literacy achievement. The selfconcept of an individual includes the perception of one’s abilities in a certain context. In the context of the ESL learner’s literacy skills, it indicates the learner’s academic self-concept. The literacy ability of a person plays an important role in academic success. The practice concerning a large part of ESL learners in South Africa learning through a LOLT that is not their mother tongue largely has a negative effect on their literacy skills. In Article 4, the impact of a literacy intervention programme on the self-concept development of Grade 4 ESL learners was examined. Secondly, possible correlations between global selfconcept and the following self-concept dimensions Behavioural Adjustment (BEH), Intellectual and School Status (INT), Physical Appearance and Attributes (PHY), Freedom from Anxiety (FRE), Popularity (POP), and Happiness and Satisfaction (HAP) were established. Thirdly, the possible relationship between literacy abilities and self-concept of these learners was explored. The Piers Harris Self-concept scale was administered prior to and after the literacy intervention programme to establish the relationship between ESL learners’ literacy abilities and their selfconcept development. With regard to the first aim, pre-test/post-test results yielded small, but significant improvements in the total self-concept score (p = 0.000), as well as four of the six domains as measured with the Piers-Harris self-concept scale, namely for BEH (p = 0.007), PHY (p = 0. 000), POP (p = 0.000) and HAP (p = 0.03). Pearson Product Moment correlation analyses were performed to investigate the second and third aims. With regard to the second aim, the results have shown a significantly positive correlation between the Piers-Harris selfconcept scale’s Total (TOT) scale and self-concept before and after the intervention (r = 0.61), as well as yielded significant positive correlations between global self-concept and all six selfconcept domains. The results further show that the correlation coefficients show an increase from the pre-test to the post-test occasion. Results pertaining to the third aim demonstrated significantly positive correlations between self-concept and the following literacy measures: Reading comprehension (r = 0.67); Vocabulary (r = 0.58); Word reading (r = 0.55); Reading fluency (r = 0.55) and Spelling (r = 0.50). The effect of the intervention on the self-concept of ESL learners thus indicated noteworthy improvement. Concluding the interplay between the different systems - as described by Bronfenbrenner's’ Bioecological Systems Theory, in combination with the consequences of Cummins’s Linguistic Interdependence Theory on the literacy acquisition of a person, resulting in a negative influence on the academic self-concept of the ESL learner - was confirmed. The Reciprocal Effects Model self-concept, which proposes that academic self-concept both affects and is affected by academic achievement was considered as a contributing factor to the self-concept of the individual. The quality of an individual’s literacy skills as a prerequisite for academic success and future socio-economic independence stands central in the formation of one’s academic self-concept. The plight of many ESL learners, who have a LOLT other than their mother tongue, in combination with the effect of the interaction of different systems within which they function, resulting in poor literacy skills, is emphasized by the results of this mixed-method study. Emanating from the study, a literacy intervention in the form of storybook reading with accompanying literacy development exercises was developed and applied with positive results.
Afrikaans: Hierdie werk behels ’n ondersoekende studie insake die geletterdheidsontwikkeling van Engels Tweedetaal (ESL)-leerders en die invloed van hulle geletterdheidsvaardighede op hulle selfkonsep. Die uitgangspunt van hierdie studie is die huidige stand van sake rakende die swak gehalte van die geletterdheidsvaardighede van veral ESL-leerders in Suid-Afrika. ’n Oorsig van teoretiese perspektiewe grondliggend tot geletterdheidsontwikkeling en selfkonsep het die basis vir die studie verskaf. ’n Empiriese ondersoek rakende die uitdagings waarvoor primêre skool (ESL)-leerders te staan kom, het gehelp om sommige van die belangrike faktore te identifiseer wat goed ontwikkelde geletterdheidsvaardighede van ESL-leerders teenwerk. Die navorsing het graad 4 ESL-leerders in die intermediêre fase wat ’n agterstand in geletterdheid toon, betrek. ’n Intervensie in die vorm van interaktiewe lees van storieboeke is ontwikkel en op ’n eksperimentele groep graad 4 ESL-leerders toegepas. Laastens is die interaksie tussen selfkonsep en geletterdheidsprestasie ondersoek. Die opsomming en bevindings van elke artikel word in die volgende paragrawe bespreek: Artikel 1 het die onderlinge verhouding tussen die intrinsieke en ekstrinsieke struikelblokke in die ontwikkeling van toereikende geletterdheidsvaardighede van ESL-leerders ondersoek. Hierdie artikel het ondersoek ingestel hoe Bronfenbrenner se ekologiese sisteemteorie verband hou met die posisie van die ESL-leerder in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwyskonteks. Skolastiese en sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings kenmerkend van die scenario van die gemiddelde Suid-Afrikaanse leerder is bespreek. In die lig van die interaksie tussen die verskillende sisteme in die individuele ESL-leerder se lewe is die implikasies van Cummins se Interafhanklikheidsteorie vir die geletterdheidsontwikkeling van ESL-leerders oorweeg. Die effek van ESL-leer sonder ’n goed ontwikkelde moedertaalbasis is van naderby beskou. Die invloed van die interaksie tussen verskillende intrinsieke en ekstrinsieke faktore in die onderskeie sisteme waarbinne ’n leerder hom- of haar bevind, is aangespreek, in kombinasie met die swak geletterdheid in L2 as gevolg van die implikasies van Cummins se Linguistieke Interafhanklikheidsteorie vir die selfkonsep van ESL-leerders in Suid-Afrika. Die Resiproke- Effekte-Model (REM) van selfkonsep en prestasie het mekaar versterk. Die literatuur wat ondersoek is, toon ’n sterk verwantskap tussen Bronfenbrenner se Bio-ekologiese Sistemeteorie, die Linguistiese Interafhanklikheidsteorie soos deur Cummins voorgestel en die status van ’n persoon se selfkonsep. Die navorser redeneer daarom dat die interaksie van intrinsieke en ekstrinsieke faktore binne die verskillende stelsels waarbinne die ESL-leerder funksioneer, gekombineer met die implikasies van Cummins se teorie, waarskynlik ’n impak op die selfkonsep van ESL-leerders in Suid-Afrika sal hê. Artikel 2 bepaal en beskryf die uitdagings wat ESL-opvoeders ervaar in hulle soeke daarna om responsiewe geletterdheidsomgewings vir ESL-leerders te skep. Die kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerpe het die navorser in staat gestel om vyf oorkoepelende temas te identifiseer as struikelblokke wat ESL-leerders verhoed om optimaal akademies te vorder. Dit sluit die TVOL (LOLT) in wat nie die moedertaal van die leerders is nie, die gaping tussen die kurrikulum van die taal van onderrig en leer in graad 3 en graad 4; dissiplinêre probleme; selfkonsep en emosionele probleme en die gebrek aan tyd en struktuur om noodsaaklike individuele steun aan leerders te bied. Engels as die TVOL vir leerders met ’n ander moedertaal het geblyk nie alleen ’n reuse uitdaging vir opvoeders te wees wat ESL-leerders onderrig nie, maar dit skyn ook die onderliggende oorsaak vir die swak geletterdheidsgehalte van talle Suid-Afrikaanse ESL-leerders te wees. Die deelnemende onderwysers het saamgestem dat geletterdheid en meegaande akademiese probleme ’n negatiewe uitwerking op die selfkonsep en motivering van ESL-leerders gehad het. In hierdie artikel is die belangrikheid van moedertaalonderrig deur ’n teoretiese studie beklemtoon en deur kwalitatiewe navorsing geverifieer. In die lig van die groot verskeidenheid moedertaalsprekers in klaskamers in Suid-Afrika is aanbeveel dat taal-ondersteunde leer en transtaligheid as onderrigstrategieë ondersoek moet word in klaskamers waar die TVOL nie die moedertaal van die leerders is nie. Deur die uitdaging te ondersoek waarvoor ESL-leerders in Suid-Afrika te staan kom wat geletterdheidsvaardighede betref, het Artikel 3 gepoog om die ontwikkeling van die geletterdheidsvaardighede van ’n individu te bepaal. Die belangrikheid van opkomende geletterdheidsvaardighede in geletterdheidsontwikkeling is van naderby beskou. Fonologie, morfologie, sintaks, semantiek en pragmatiek as komponente van taal maak die onderliggende struktuur van enige taal. Voortspruitend uit hierdie basis is die vaardighede wat noodsaaklik is vir die ontwikkeling van leesvaardighede, insluitende ’n fonologiese bewustheid, vlotheid, woordeskat en begrip. Gebaseer op die Sosio-kulturele leer teorie, is ’n geletterdheidsintervensie wat ’n heeltaalbenadering inkorporeer, toegepas om die geletterdheidsontwikkeling van die deelnemende ESL-leerders te ondersteun. Geletterdheidsoefeninge is saam met die lees van stories gebruik om die woordlees, leesvlotheid, woordeskat, leesbegrip en spelvermoë van hierdie leerders te verbeter. Deur gebruik te maak van ’n eksperimentele voor-/na-toets navorsingsontwerp, beklemtoon die resultate die waarde van interaktiewe storieboeklees by die skep van responsiewe geletterdheidsomgewings om die geletterdheidsvaardighede van ESL-leerders te ontwikkel. Die bevindings van hierdie studie dui ’n betekenisvolle verbetering van die geletterdheidsvaardighede van die eksperimentele groep aan deur die voor- en na-toetsmetings in aanmerking te neem. Die tellings vir spoedlees het verbeter vanaf 56.57 (voortoets) tot 74.71 (natoets); vir woordlees het dié van 29.5 tot 41.8 verbeter; speluitslae het van 17.33 tot 23.90 verbeter; die gemiddelde uitslae vir woordeskat het van 12.54 tot 17.19 verbeter; en leesbegripuitslae het van 9.61 tot 13.23 verbeter. Artikel 4 het die wisselwerking tussen selfkonsep en geletterdheidsprestasie ondersoek. Die selfkonsep van ’n individu sluit die persepsie van ’n persoon se vermoë binne ’n sekere konteks in. In die konteks van die ESL-leerder se geletterdheidsvaardighede, dui dit die leerder se akademiese selfkonsep aan. Die geletterdheidsvermoë van ’n persoon speel ’n belangrike rol in akademiese sukses. Die praktyk insake ’n groot deel van ESL-leerders in Suid-Afrika wat deur ’n TVOL leer wat nie hulle moedertaal is nie, het grootliks ’n negatiewe effek op hulle geletterdheidsvaardighede. In Artikel 4 is die impak van ’n geletterdheidsintervensieprogram op die selfkonsepontwikkeling van graad 4 ESL-leerders ondersoek. Tweedens is moontlike korrelasies tussen globale selfkonsep en die volgende dimensies van selfkonsep, naamlik Gedragsaanpassing (BEH), Intellektuele en skoolstatus (INT), Fisiese Voorkoms en Eienskappe (PHY), Vryheid van Angstigheid (FRE), Gewildheid (POP) en Geluk en Tevredenheid (HAP) bepaal. Derdens is die moontlike verhouding tussen die geletterdheidsvermoë en selfkonsep van hierdie leerders ondersoek. Die Piers Harris Selfkonsepskaal is voor en na die geletterdheidsintervensieprogram toegepas om die verhouding tussen ESL-leerders se vermoëns en hulle selfkonsep-ontwikkeling te bepaal. Wat betref die eerste oogmerk, het voor- /na-toetsresultate klein, maar betekenisvolle verbeterings in die totale selfkonseptelling (p = 0.000) opgelewer, asook vier van die ses domeine soos bepaal met die Piers-Harris selfkonsepskaal, naamlik vir BEH (p = 0.007), PHY (p = 0. 000), POP (p = 0.000) en HAP (p = 0.03). Pearson Produk-Moment korrelasieanalises is uitgevoer om die tweede en derde oogmerke te ondersoek. Wat die tweede oogmerk betref, toon die resultate ’n betekenisvol positiewe korrelasie tussen die Piers-Harris selfkonsepskaal se Totale (TOT) skaal en selfkonsep voor en na die intervensie (r = 0.61), sowel as betekenisvol positiewe korrelasies tussen globale selfkonsep en al ses selfkonsepdomeine. Die resultate toon verder aan dat die korrelasiekoeffisiënte ’n toename vanaf die voortoets na die natoetsgeleentheid toon. Resultate wat betref die derde oogmerk toon betekenisvol positiewe korrelasies tussen selfkonsep en die volgende geletterdheidsmetings: Leesbegrip (r = 0.67); Woordeskat (r = 0.58); Woordlees (r = 0.55); Leesvlotheid (r = 0.55) en Spelling (r = 0.50). Die effek van die intervensie op die selfkonsep van ESL-leerders het gevolglik ’n betekenisvolle verbetering getoon. Ter afsluiting is bevestig dat die wisselwerking tussen die verskillende sisteme, soos beskryf deur Bronfenbrenner se Bio-ekologiese Sisteemteorie, gekombineer met die gevolge van Cummins se Linguistiese Onafhanklikheidsteorie op die geletterdheidsverwerwing van ’n persoon, lei tot ’n negatiewe invloed op die akademiese selfkonsep van die ESL-leerder. Die Resiprokale Effekte-Model-selfkonsep, wat voorstel dat akademiese selfkonsep akademiese prestasie affekteer en daardeur geaffekteer word, is oorweeg as ’n bydraende faktor tot die selfkonsep van die individu. Die gehalte van ’n individu se geletterdheidsvaardighede as ’n voorvereiste vir akademiese sukses en toekomstige sosio-ekonomiese onafhanklikheid staan sentraal tot die vorming van ’n persoon se akademiese selfkonsep. Die posisie van talle ESLleerders wat ’n ander TVOL as hulle moedertaal het, gekombineer met die effek van die interaksie van verskillende sisteme waarbinne hulle funksioneer, en wat lei tot swak geletterdheidsvaardighede, word beklemtoon deur die resultate van hierdie gemengde metode studie. Voortspruitend uit die studie is ’n geletterdheidsintervensie in die vorm van storieboeklees, gepaardgaande met oefeninge wat geletterdheidsontwikkelings-oefeninge met positiewe resultate ontwikkel en toegepas.
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Keywords
Literacy, Self-concept, Scholastic abilities, Scholastic problems, Challenges, Educators, ESL-learner, Mother tongue, Curriculum, Discipline, Theoretical perspectives, Social-cultural, Intrinsic factors, Extrinsic factors, Literacy development, Intervention, Story reading, Intermediate phase, Thesis (Ph.D. (Education Studies))--University of the Free State, 2018
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