Jawing, Esther (2016) Understanding academic reading experiences and shifts in reading strategies within a sociocultural context : a case study of Malaysian undergraduates in a British University. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Research into L2 reading is well developed. Most of this research, however, views reading within a cognitive and linguistic theoretical framework. It may be argued, however, that an understanding of the reading process can no longer be achieved if restricted to linguistic and cognitive activities. This thesis attempts to draw on sociocultural perspectives to describe ESL academic reading development.

A longitudinal approach is adopted to explore the perceptions and experiences of academic reading of a group of Malaysian undergraduates studying in a British university over a period of two academic years. Using multiple case study design and phenomenography as guiding principles, data collection methods include individual interviews and reading diaries. This research has been conducted in a university in the United Kingdom with five male and six female Malaysian undergraduates. All the participants were fluent English as a Second Language (ESL) speakers. Data were analysed based on phenomenographic and thematic analysis principles, using qualitative data processing software, Nvivo10.

The findings suggest that these participants’ perceptions of academic reading are influenced by their perceptions of the role of English in the UK, by the complexity of the texts they read and by their lack of academic language proficiency. Their reading strategies consist of support, cognitive and metacognitive strategies. The dynamic nature of their reading strategies is characterised by their reading strategy reinvention and reading strategy adjustments, influenced by a range of text and reader factors. Text factors include the linguistic features in discipline-specific texts and the text medium. Reader factors include motivation and background knowledge. This research has made a contribution to the understanding of the sociocultural elements that influence ESL academic reading development in the UK.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Second language acquisition, Students, Foreign -- Books and reading
Official Date:	May 2016
Dates:	Date Event May 2016 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Centre for Education Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Wray, David
Extent:	323 leaves
Language:	eng

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