Unlocking the Power of Schema Theory based Pre-Reading Activities: Enhancing Reading Comprehension at the Intermediate Level

Abstract

The study evaluated the efficacy of schema theory-based pre-reading activities in enhancing intermediate-level reading comprehension. The study was conducted solely on first-year English students at GHSS Togh Bala Kohat. The study involved 60 first-year students, divided into two groups of 30 participants each. The study employed two groups, a control group and an experimental group. The experimental group underwent five English lessons utilizing schema theory-based brainstorming activities while the control group received traditional instruction. Pre- and post-tests were administered to students to evaluate their performance and assess the outcomes of schema theory-based pre-reading exercises. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS. The study revealed that incorporating schema theory-based pre-reading exercises in teaching resulted in superior academic performance of students compared to those who were not exposed to such activities. After a period of four months, retention tests were conducted once more. The findings indicated that Schema-based pre-reading exercises improved students’ performance.