SALTeL Journal (Southeast Asia Language Teaching and Learning)
Vol. 6 No. 1: January 2023

Text Coherence Necessary for the Promotion of Japanese EFL Learner’s Predictive Inference Generation

Masahiro MAEDA (Kanazawa Seiryo University, Japan & University of Tsukuba, Japan)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jan 2023

Abstract

Reading is a very complex process consisting of lower- and higher-level processing. Inference generation is necessary to achieve higher-level processing. It is challenging for Japanese EFL readers because they must use many cognitive resources in lower-level processing, such as word recognition and syntax analysis. This study investigated the relationship between Japanese EFL learners' predictive inference generation as higher-level processing and text coherence from the encoding perspective rather than activation. We used a cued recall task whose rates would be evidence of the reader's encoding of predictive inferences. The recall rates in the high predictability target version, which allowed readers to predict an outcome easily, were more significant than other text versions, and results were affected by the reader's proficiency. These findings suggest that EFL learners' encoding of predictive inference can be influenced under the specific text conditions in higher-level proficiency groups.

Copyrights © 2023






Journal Info

Abbrev

SALTeL

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Southeast Asia Language Teaching and Learning (SALTeL) is a double-blind peer-reviewed international journal dedicated to promoting scholarly exchange among teachers and researchers in the field of Language Teaching. The journal is published online twice a year. The scope of SALTeL includes the ...