1st Edition

Reading in a Second Language Process, Product and Practice

By A.H. Urquhart, Cyril J. Weir Copyright 1998
    362 Pages
    by Routledge

    362 Pages
    by Routledge

    Reading in a Second Language sets the testing and teaching of reading against a theoretical background, discussing research from both applied linguistics and cognitive psychology. Where possible, it focuses on research into second language readers and distinguishes different kinds of reading, particularly expeditious as opposed to careful reading, and emphasizes the validity of each.Sandy Urquhart and Cyril Weir relate testing and teaching, discussing similarities and differences, providing a comprehensive survey of both methods with the emphasis on those which have been substantiated or supported by research evidence. Finally, the book proposes specific research topics, and detailed advice on how to construct tests of language for academic purposes and suggestions for further research.

    PART 1
    1. Introduction
    2. Preliminaries: What is Reading?PART 2: THE THEORY OF READING
    2.1 Models
    2.2 Components in Detail
    2.3 Comprehension, Skills, Strategies and Styles
    2.4 Different Kinds of Reading
    PART 3: TESTING READING COMPREHENSION (S)
    3.1 Introduction: The Limits of Testing
    3.2 Task Based Factors
    3.3 Text Based Factors
    3.4 Test Formats
    3.5 Conclusions
    PART 4: THE TEACHING OF READING
    4.1 Teaching and Testing?
    4.2 Focus on Metacognitive Strategies
    4.3 Focus on Cognitive Strategies and Skills
    4.4 What Should Happen in the Reading Classroom?
    PART  5: FUTURE RESEARCH
    5.1 Models and Different Types of Reading
    5.2 Reading and the Teaching of Grammar
    5.3 The Use of Tests to Investigate Componentiality in Reading Research

    Biography

    A.H. Urquhart, Cyril J. Weir