Volume 6-1 March 2010. | home |

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Title
Reading Strategies in Electronic Environment: An Emerging Concern

Authors
Susan Marandi
Al-Zahra University, Iran
Shabnam Mokhtarnia
Azad University of Karaj, Iran

Bio Data
Susan Marandi is assistant professor and head of English Department at Al-Zahra University, Iran. Her current research interest covers Computer Assisted Language
Learning (CALL) and language assessment.

Shabnam Mokhtarnia is an M.A. graduate in TEFL (Teaching English as Foreign Language) from Al-Zahra University, Iran. She is teaching general and technical English courses at Azad University of Karaj and Payam-e-Nour University of Karaj. Her current research interest covers Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL).

Abstract
This study is an attempt to investigate whether significant relationship exists between metacognitive awareness of hypertext reading strategies of Iranian EFL learners and their degrees of computer familiarity. Twenty two Iranian EFL learners completed two questionnaires tapping their
metacognitive awareness of hypertext reading strategy use and degrees of computer familiarity. The results revealed that there was a direct, positive, statistically significant relationship between computer familiarity and metacognitve awareness of hypertext overall reading strategies in general and global reading strategies in particular. In other words, the more familiar with computer the EFL students are, the more metacognitively aware of hypertext reading strategies they seem to be. However, no significant relationship was found between computer familiarity and metacognitive awareness of hypertext support and problem solving
strategies. The results highlight the importance of developing and promoting new literacy skills in electronic environment specifically in EFL and ESL classes.

Key Words: Computer familiarity, EFL learners, Hypertext, Metacognitive awareness, Reading strategies