The Effect of Interactive Reading on Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Reading Motivation in Children Whose First Language Is Not Turkish
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of interactive reading practices on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and reading motivation among children whose first language is not Turkish. Employing a quantitative research paradigm, the study was designed as a quasi-experimental model incorporating pre-test and post-test control groups. The sample consisted of 29 third-grade students enrolled in a public primary school under the authority of the Ministry of National Education in Ankara’s Yenimahalle district during the 2021–2022 academic year. Of the participants, 27 were of Iraqi origin and 3 were Syrian. The intervention spanned ten weeks, with 16 students assigned to the experimental group and 14 to the control group. Data were collected through validated tools, including the “Reading Comprehension Rubric,” the “Reading Motivation Profile” scale, and “Story Cubes,” which served to evaluate vocabulary acquisition. Quantitative analyses revealed that students in the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in both reading comprehension and reading motivation when compared to their peers in the control group. Although vocabulary gains were also higher among the experimental group, the difference did not reach statistical significance, potentially due to the structured and intensive vocabulary instruction provided to the control group. These findings underscore the efficacy of interactive reading activities as a pedagogical strategy to enhance the reading skills of learners from linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Classroom Education
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
May 4, 2026
Submission Date
August 21, 2025
Acceptance Date
January 30, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 1