Volume 16, Issue 3 December 2020, pp. 147–166 
Regular Papers
The effects of digital scaffolding on adolescent English reading in Japan: An experimental study on visual-syntactic text formatting
Sachiko Ozaki 
1, & Isao Ueda2
1 Osaka University, JAPAN 
2 Osaka University and Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, JAPAN
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29140/jaltcall.v16n3.287
Abstract
This experimental study examined how VSTF (Visual-Syntactic Text Formatting)-based text benefits reading speed, reading comprehension, reading efficiency and retention for middle and high school students. Prospective within-subjects tests were conducted in Japan on a total of 132 students: 76 high school students from 12th grade and 56 middle school students from eighth grade. Students read both block-formatted text and VSTF-based text and answered quizzes and subjective questionnaires related to what they read. Objectively, although middle school students did not show a significant difference between using block-formatted text and VSTF-based text, low proficiency students in high school showed a significant increase in reading speed, reading comprehension, reading efficiency and retention, while high proficiency students in high school showed a significant increase in reading speed and retention. Regarding subjective questionnaires, most students among all of the grades felt reading VSTF-based text was more effective than reading block-formatted text. Based on these results, future long-term studies with multiple texts should be considered.
Copyright
© Sachiko Ozaki, Isao Ueda
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Suggested citation
Ozaki, S., & Ueda, I. (2020). The effects of digital scaffolding on adolescent English reading in Japan: An experimental study on visual-syntactic text formatting. The JALT CALL Journal, 16(3), 147–166. https://doi.org/10.29140/jaltcall.v16n3.287
Related Articles:
Incorporating hypnotic suggestion into teacher education programs: Emotional and cognitive implications for teachers
Farshad Ghasemi
Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics Published: 31 December, 2019, Volume 2(3), 83–103. 
What makes students speak Japanese in immersion programs?
Kumiko Katayama, Kayoko Hashimoto
Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics Published: 31 December, 2019, Volume 2(3), 104–120.
Voicing the academy
Davina Allison
Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics Published: 31 December, 2018, Volume 1(3), 102–117.
Theory of Mind development and narrative writing: A longitudinal study
Birgitta E. Svensson
Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics Published: 31 December, 2018, Volume 1(3), 118–134.
Incidental vocabulary learning through watching movies
Robert J. Ashcroft, Joseph Garner, Oliver Hadingham
Australian Journal of Applied Linguistics Published: 31 December, 2018, Volume 1(3), 135–147.
The Council of Europe Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture:
Ideological refractions, othering and obedient politics
Ashley Simpson, Fred Dervin
Intercultural Communication Education Published: 20 December, 2019, Volume 2(3), 102–119.
"I don't want to be stereotypical, but..."
Norwegian EFL learners' awareness of and willingness to challenge visual stereotypes
Cecilie Waallann Brown
Intercultural Communication Education Published: 20 December, 2019, Volume 2(3), 120–141.
(Re)imagining a course in language and intercultural communication for the 21st century
Adriana Raquel Díaz, Paul J. Moore
Intercultural Communication Education Published: 29 December, 2018, Volume 1(3), 83–99.
Critical intercultural communication education: cultural analysis and pedagogical applications
Sofia A. Koutlaki, Zohreh R. Eslami
Intercultural Communication Education Published: 29 December, 2018, Volume 1(3), 100–109.
Advancing intercultural learning in world language education: Recent developments in pre-service teacher education in the U.S.
Paula Garrett-Rucks
Intercultural Communication Education Published: 29 December, 2018, Volume 1(3), 110–122.