Semantic Mapping Technique Research Articles

The Role of Semantic Mapping as a While-reading Activity in Improving Reading Comprehension Ability of the Iranian University Students in General English (GE) Courses

Of the four important skills in any second language pedagogy, reading comprehension is of paramount importance for students in the Iranian universities. A decision was therefore made to check the students' skill and ability in reading comprehension on the basis of 'semantic mapping' task inYazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. In this quasi-experimental study, six general-English classes in Shahid Sadoughi University were assigned randomly to 3 control and 3 experimental groups. Students were studying in Family Health, Environmental Health, and Nursing fields. A pretest and posttest was held and the students were compared both at the beginning and at the end of the study. Data were then analyzed through ANOVA and paired-test via SPSS software. The findings revealed no statistically significant relationship between the two techniques. However, 'semantic mapping' technique, in terms of the mean score, proved more effective for Nursing students (M=6.25) compared with the students of Environmental Health (M=2.60) and Family Health (M=4.62). The results of this study are in line with a similar study carried out with medical and dental students (2006) in which the semantic mapping group enjoyed significantly higher reading comprehension ability than the relevant control group at the end of the study. (Note that the Nursing students in Iranian universities have a better position compared with Health-group students but a lower position compared with Medical and Dental students) This study suggests that the higher proficiency level of the learners is the more they may benefit from semantic mapping technique as a while-reading activity.

IMPROVING STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN WRITING DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH THROUGH SEMANTIC MAPPING TECHNIQUE

ABSTRACT This study attempts to improve students’ achievement in writing descriptive paragraph through Semantic Mapping Technique. This study was conducted by using classroom action research. The subject of the research was class (IX/A) SMP St. Petrus Medan that consisted of (30) students. The research was conducted in two cycles. The instruments of collecting data were quantitative data (Writing Test) and Qualitative data (diary notes, observation sheet, interview and questionnaire sheet). Based on the data analyzing, it is found that students’ writing descriptive paragraph has improved from the orientation test to the test I and test II of the first and second cycle. It means that there is improvement in students’ writing descriptive paragraph affected by semantic mapping. It can be seen from the improvement of the students’ mean score for orientation test (52,5); test cycle I (62,04); and test cycle II (71,25). The students’ score continuously improved in each test. Therefore, it can be concluded that Semantic Mapping Technique can improve students’ achievement in writing descriptive paragraph. Keywords: students’ achievement, writing, genre, semantic mapping technique

Teaching Vocabulary Through a Semantic Mapping Techniqu

This study compared teaching vocabulary through a definition and explanation technique with a semantic mapping technique, specifically to see which of the two techniques was more effective in achieving accurate and appropriate use of selected vocabulary and generating an awareness that words are related in meaning. A group of 40 Form 1 students were randomly selected. These were taught using a definition and explanation technique and later pre - tested. They were then taught through a semantic mapping technique, and were post - tested. The results showed a significant improvement in the performance of the students in respect to accurate and appropriate use of words as well as understanding meaning relations among words after being taught through a semantic mapping technique than after being taught with a definition and explanation technique