OKARA: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra
Vol. 19 No. 2 (2025): OKARA: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra

Reading Comprehension Through Text Structure Instruction: Does It Work?

Thien Thanh Phuong Le (Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, 10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang)
Thi Phuong Dung Cao (Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, 10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Nov 2025

Abstract

In English as a foreign language (EFL) contexts, reading plays a key role in academic success. However, many learners struggle with complex academic texts (or expository texts) due to limited strategic reading skills. Text structure instruction offers a promising solution by enabling learners to recognize and process textual organization through strategies such as identifying structural patterns, interpreting signal words, and summarizing with graphic organizers. This study investigated the impact of a 10-week text structure instruction program on students' reading comprehension, aiming to determine whether explicit instruction in text structure could enhance comprehension more effectively than traditional methods. A quasi-experimental design was used, with one group receiving traditional reading instruction and the other exposed to text structure instruction. Both groups completed pre- and post-tests to assess gains in reading comprehension. Results showed significant improvement in both groups, with the experimental group demonstrating a greater increase in scores. These findings suggest that structured instruction in text structure is more effective in improving reading comprehension than traditional approaches. The study highlights the value of incorporating text structure into reading instruction to better support language learners.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

okara

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

The journal publishes research papers in the field of linguistics, literature, and language teaching, such as fundamentals of ELT, the sound of the word of the language, structure, meaning, language and gender, sociolinguistic, language philosophy, history of linguistic, origin/evolution, ...