Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam

Literature represents a unique source of input in English language learning and has been exploited using a variety of models and methodologies over the years. While individual sustained reading has long been recognised to support L2 learning, recent trends have suggested extensive reading be placed...

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Main Author: Shelton-Strong, Scott
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/26218/
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author Shelton-Strong, Scott
author_facet Shelton-Strong, Scott
author_sort Shelton-Strong, Scott
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Literature represents a unique source of input in English language learning and has been exploited using a variety of models and methodologies over the years. While individual sustained reading has long been recognised to support L2 learning, recent trends have suggested extensive reading be placed within a framework, which integrates response to the text and interaction with peers, to combine reading with debate, discussion, interpretation and reflection. This study represents a close examination, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles, which reflect such a model, based on a case study conducted in a private language centre in Vietnam. This investigation aims to seek evidence that opportunities for language learning emerge from within the co-construction of communication fostered by the interaction in learnerled, reader response groups, and are developed through collaboration, interpretation and negotiation of meaning. Classroom recordings of such interaction were analysed, and findings discussed which reflect the belief, based on sociocultural theory, that processes leading to opportunities for language acquisition can be identified as an emergent phenomenon, coconstructed within and interrelated to the support of peers within a social environment. Additional qualitative evidence in the form of learner selfevaluation questionnaires, where performance and experience in LCs were reflected upon, suggests that perceptions of self-efficacy were improved through learner participation, leading to increased motivation and learner autonomy. Literature Circles, creating opportunities for collaborative learning at the interface of language learning and literature, are argued to offer a relevant, pedagogically sound approach to fostering language acquisition in ELT.
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spelling nottingham-262182017-10-19T13:22:10Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/26218/ Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam Shelton-Strong, Scott Literature represents a unique source of input in English language learning and has been exploited using a variety of models and methodologies over the years. While individual sustained reading has long been recognised to support L2 learning, recent trends have suggested extensive reading be placed within a framework, which integrates response to the text and interaction with peers, to combine reading with debate, discussion, interpretation and reflection. This study represents a close examination, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles, which reflect such a model, based on a case study conducted in a private language centre in Vietnam. This investigation aims to seek evidence that opportunities for language learning emerge from within the co-construction of communication fostered by the interaction in learnerled, reader response groups, and are developed through collaboration, interpretation and negotiation of meaning. Classroom recordings of such interaction were analysed, and findings discussed which reflect the belief, based on sociocultural theory, that processes leading to opportunities for language acquisition can be identified as an emergent phenomenon, coconstructed within and interrelated to the support of peers within a social environment. Additional qualitative evidence in the form of learner selfevaluation questionnaires, where performance and experience in LCs were reflected upon, suggests that perceptions of self-efficacy were improved through learner participation, leading to increased motivation and learner autonomy. Literature Circles, creating opportunities for collaborative learning at the interface of language learning and literature, are argued to offer a relevant, pedagogically sound approach to fostering language acquisition in ELT. 2012-09-03 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/26218/1/Shelton-Strong_Scott.pdf Shelton-Strong, Scott (2012) Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished) Exploration analysis evaluation Literature Circles EFL case study intermediate young adults Vietnam
spellingShingle Exploration
analysis
evaluation
Literature Circles
EFL
case study
intermediate
young adults
Vietnam
Shelton-Strong, Scott
Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam
title Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam
title_full Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam
title_fullStr Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam
title_full_unstemmed Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam
title_short Exploration, analysis and evaluation of Literature Circles in EFL: A case study of higher intermediate young adults in Vietnam
title_sort exploration, analysis and evaluation of literature circles in efl: a case study of higher intermediate young adults in vietnam
topic Exploration
analysis
evaluation
Literature Circles
EFL
case study
intermediate
young adults
Vietnam
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/26218/