The Effect of Bilingualism on the Developing of English Reading Skill

Year 2015, Volume: 36 Issue: 3, 1216 - 1225, 13.05.2015

Maryam Tafarrojı , Parvin Malekzadeh

Abstract

Abstract. Reading skill has gained interest by many of Iranian English teachers and learners due to its' significant role in promoting language competence and understanding authentic materials. Undeniable reality of bilingualism and multilingualism around the world has enforced most of the researchers to investigate the impact of bilingualism in learning English. The aim of this study is to find the effect of bilingualism on learners reading ability. To this end, 60 female students from a secondary school in Kouhdasht, Iran, were selected, and assigned to two homogeneous groups of bilingual (Laki- Persian) and monolingual (Persian). During 12 sixty-minute sessions within eight weeks, both group practiced reading through extensive and intensive reading and summarizing. After treatment the result revealed that reading skill was statistically significant in bilingual students, in comparison with monolingual counterparts. The findings of this study have various implications for language teachers and policy makers to provide bilingual students with optimal teaching and learning opportunities. 

Keywords

Bilingual, monolingual, reading skill, intensive study, extensive study

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