RETHINKING ONLINE READING EXERCISES:
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This paper examines problems among Chinese-speaking students in the Macao Polytechnic Institute’s School of Business in understanding the content of authentic texts they read. Since September 2006, students have read and answered questions online on 14 additional texts drawn from textbook-supplementing materials. But in the 2009 mid-term English examinations, 174 third-years averaged 7.2/15 on reading comprehension. Despite high compliance, the examination results have questioned the effectiveness of students’ extra online reading. Genres are relevant: textbooks and news reportage differ from narrative writing. Comprehension problems are analysed in detail, before also considering how observed behaviour may relate to effective online learning. The purpose/objective of this paper is to reassess the type of reading exercises that may be effective for independent online reading to improve Chinese students’ reading skills and, more importantly, their understanding of the content read. |
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