Reviewing the Effectiveness of Reading Aloud Technique in EFL Context: Is it Better than Silent Reading?

Abstract

Reading Aloud (RA) technique seems to give a new level of emphasis on reading. In 2015, Pimanmas Ninsuwan experimented this technique on twenty English as Foreign Language (EFL) university students of Thailand and found that while fast learners are faster in understanding the context than slow learners who are less able, even primary English level students gain a better grasp of what they read if they do it aloud than silently. RA is not quite a discovery, but the paper’s significant contribution to the field is its visible improvement on Thai students’ English reading comprehension from June to August 2014, during a time when Thailand is going to join ASEAN, thus entering international relations where English is essential in communication. This paper is interested in reviewing it because the seemingly simple technique has numerous benefits not limited to decreasing students’ intimidation on difficult and unfamiliar words, provoking them to understand and analyse what they read, training not just their reading skill but also their listening and speaking skills.  Â