The Effects of Cross Cultural Background Knowledge on Iranian EFL Learners' Reading Comprehension at Two Levels of Language Proficiency

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of cross cultural background knowledge on Iranian EFL learners' reading comprehension at low and advanced levels of language proficiency. The present study was done in two phases: Treatment and evaluation. Sixty students at low and advanced levels of language proficiency took part in the present study. After administering the proficiency test, a pretest of reading comprehension, including 30 multiple choice questions, was administered for each group for comparison to post test scores. During the treatment, the researcher made the low and advanced students familiar with target cultural values and norms. After treatment, all participants took the posttests. The researcher compared the scores of pre and posttests of each group to consider the effects of cross cultural background knowledge on reading comprehension of learners at low and advanced levels. The results of Paired sample t test indicated that cross cultural background knowledge had significant effects on the learners' reading comprehension at higher levels of language proficiency, but low level learners did not show significant development on their reading comprehension.