The use of bottom-up and top-down processing as an efl teaching tool based on schema theory to develop reading skills in 9th graders at “Técnico Salesiano” high school in Cuenca

Abstract

This study focuses on the appropriate methodology for teaching reading in an English as a foreign language classroom. The methodology is based on the schema theory and its bottom-up and top-down processing. Within this methodology, the memory plays a very important role since it is the one that will allow the student to acquire new knowledge. In order to reach the objective of this study a questionnaire has been carried out on the students of the ninth grade of basic education of the ‘Técnico Salesiano’ high school. This questionnaire was the basis for detecting the interests that each student has in reading and especially the methodology used by the teacher in the development of this skill. Based on the results obtained from the questionnaire, a didactic guide has been developed for the teacher including activities with the main purpose to facilitate a methodology of teaching that can be helpful in the process of the reading skill.