The effects of syntactically parsed text formats on intensive reading in EFL

Abstract

Separating text into meaningful language chunks, as with visual-syntactic text formatting, helps readers to process text more easily and language learners to recognize grammar and syntax patterns more quickly. Evidence of this exists in studies on native and non-native English speakers. However, recent studies question the roll of VSTF in certain EFL contexts. The report herein shows eye-tracking data and numerical results from EFL students engaged in intensive reading activities, which utilized parsed texts or conventional block texts in controlled experiments. This report helps readers to decipher whether or not derivatives of VSTF are appropriate for their specific contexts.