Developing English Reading Comprehension Modules Incorporating Chinese Culture for Undergraduates in China

Authors

  • Xin Ma

    Education Department, Faculty of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia

    School of Foreign Languages, Zhengzhou Normal University, Zhengzhou 450011, China

     
  • SiewEng Lin

    Education Department, Faculty of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i3.8470
Received: 17 January 2025 | Revised: 16 February 2025 | Accepted: 20 February 2025 | Published Online: 28 February 2025

Abstract

This study aims to develop a set of English Reading Comprehension Modules (ERCMs) to effectively promote Chinese students’ reading proficiency and enhance their knowledge of Chinese culture to promote Quality Education. The ERCMs were developed using the ASSURE Model and contain 45 reading passages about Chinese culture for primary, intermediate and advanced readers. The reading materials were validated by experts, and a pilot study with 90 undergraduates was conducted to determine the reliability of the ERCMs. Following the rigorous development of the ERCMs, a further 131 students took the pre-test and participated in the main study, using the modules at their own level of difficulty for five weeks, during which time the process and details of class were observed and documented in Classroom Observation Checklists. Then they participated in the post-test, in which six students and three teachers were interviewed. The results of the study shown varying degrees of improvement in the learners’ overall reading ability as well as in literal comprehension, reorganization and inferential comprehension. Analyses of classroom observation checklists and interview transcripts confirmed this finding. In addition, both teachers and students reported that they had learnt more about Chinese culture through the ERCMs. We hope that the ERCMs can be used as supplementary materials to improve students’ English reading comprehension and Chinese cultural literacy

Keywords:

ASSURE Model; Chinese Culture; English Reading Comprehension Modules (ERCMs); Quality Education; Reading Performance

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How to Cite

Ma, X., & Lin, S. (2025). Developing English Reading Comprehension Modules Incorporating Chinese Culture for Undergraduates in China. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(3), 137–149. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i3.8470

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 3 (March 2025)

Article Type

Article (This article belongs to the Topical Collection“Technology-Enhanced English Language Teaching and Learning: Innovations and Practices”)

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Copyright © 2025 Xin Ma, SiewEng Lin

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.