Digital tools for reading: applications and effects in textual comprehension of bilingual students

Authors

  • Déborah Louise Moura Tavares Pessoa Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
  • Janaina Weissheimer Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/1807-9288.2019v15n2p74

Abstract

This article provides an explanation regarding the effects of the Spritz reading tool on bilingual subjects’ reading competence. The study used as the main reference for this essay highlights the role of reading comprehension within two text presentation modes - Spritz and digital - and in two languages - Portuguese (L1) and English (L2). The research, featuring an exploratory character and of mixed methods, uses data from twenty-six subjectsL2 proficiency, previous knowledge and reading comprehension questions in L1 and L2. The results show that, regardless of the text presentation mode, L1 text comprehension was superior to L2 comprehension. Regarding the mode of presentation of the text, the statistical analyzes showed no significant differences between the reading score of participants in Spritz or digital mode, in L1 or L2.Overall, the study stands as a contribution to the discussion regarding the use of apps(such as Spritz) for reading assignments in L1 and L2 within the classroom.

Author Biographies

Déborah Louise Moura Tavares Pessoa, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Mestranda em Estudos da Linguagem na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Tem experiência na área de Letras, com ênfase em Línguas Estrangeiras Modernas. Trabalha principalmente com Educação Bilíngue.

Janaina Weissheimer, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Janaina Weissheimer possui graduação em Letras Português e Inglês pela Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (1999), mestrado em Lingüística Aplicada pela Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (2002) e doutorado em Letras (Inglês e Literatura Correspondente) pela Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (2007). Atualmente é professora da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) em Natal. Tem experiência na área de Letras, com ênfase em Aquisição de Linguagem, atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: aquisição, ensino de inglês, produção oral e memória de trabalho.

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Published

2019-12-30

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2019)

Section

Articles

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