‘What makes you say so?’ Metacognition improves the sustained learning of inferential reading skills in English as a second language

Abstract

Purpose

This quasi-experimental study investigates the impact of enhancing metacognition in learning inferential reading skills in English as a second language.

Procedures

Six Grade 4 classes were randomly assigned to two groups. The “Control group” received an instructional unit on inferential reading skills. The “Metacognition group” received the same unit, including metacognitive activities. Students were assessed in metacognitive and inferential reading skills before (pre-test), immediately after (post-test) and four weeks after the intervention (deferred test).

Findings

Metacognitive strategy instruction enhanced student learning of inferential reading skills and its sustainability in time. The Metacognition group attained a significantly higher average score in deploying metacognitive skills both in the post and deferred tests, indicating that the intervention was effective, as intended, to this end. While both groups significantly improved their proficiency in inferential reading skills after working with the provided instructional unit, there was a significant difference in the Metacognition group, which outperformed the Control one, even more strongly in the deferred test.

Conclusions

Findings support the importance of deliberately promoting metacognition as it positively impacts learning outcomes and sustainability.