چکیده:
Interest plays a key role in education and language learning. This study investigated if selecting and using interest-based instructional materials could impact learners' performance in L2 reading. It also examined whether there were meaningful differences between male and female learners' performance, concerning the use of interest-based materials. Sixty first-grade university students participated in the study. To answer the research questions, a quantitative method using the 'interest survey questionnaire' and the 'achievement test,' was employed. The collected data were compared and analyzed using t-test, and through SPSS. The results revealed that the use of Interest-Based Language Teaching (IBLT) made a significant contribution to the improvement of learners' performance in L2 reading. They also revealed some interaction of interest and gender, not at significant level though, with respect to the learners' performance in learning. Thus, language teaching researchers, teachers, and particularly material developers are suggested to notice the use and importance of applying interest-based materials in L2 teaching. They should be aware that such materials can lead to better performance in L2 learning.
خلاصه ماشینی:
The Effect of Using Interest-based Materia ls on EFL Learners' Performance in Reading: Focusing on Gender Differences 1Majid Asgari 2Saeed Ketabi* IJEAP-1712-1129 3Zahra Amirian Abstract Interest plays a key role in education and language learning.
The results revealed that the use of Interest-Based Language Teaching (IBLT) made a significant contribution to the improvement of learners' performance in L2 reading.
Hence, teachers and language teaching researchers are expected to seek ways to contribute to student interest and improve achievement in L2 learning (Hidi & Harackiewicz, 2000).
This study sought to examine closely the impact of interest-based material selection on learners' achievement in L2 learning, and find probable interaction that may exist between interest and gender.
Celik (2010) in a study reported the results of an action research conducted in an ELT classroom in a high school in Turkey to examine the effects of IBLT on intrinsic motivation and language production.
Even though previous L1 studies have reported strong impact of interest on reading comprehension by young learners, which has sometimes been mediated by other individual differences, like language proficiency and gender, more research is required to be done on the effects of interest on L2 learning diverse areas.
So, there is no significant difference between female and male learners regarding their performance in learning the course materials, when teaching is interest-based.
These results can be explained by the idea that the generated situational interest can assist learners in performing with higher motivation and attention in L2 class, which can possibly facilitate and improve their learning (Ebbers, 2011; Hidi, 1990; McDaniel et al.