The Effects of Using Mind-mapping via MALL in Competitive and Cooperative Modes on L2 Reading Comprehension

Abstract

One of the ways through which teachers can help learners to improve their reading comprehension is mind mapping. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of MALL-mediated mind mapping on the reading comprehension of EFL learners in competitive and cooperative modes. Participants included 87 learners selected out of 140 learners based on their scores on Preliminary English Test (PET). The results of the reading comprehension section of PET were considered as a pretest. Then, the selected participants were divided into two experimental groups each consisting of 28 learners and a control group containing 31 learners. Then, the researcher administered mind mapping via Telegram in group one in a cooperative mode while mind mapping was done via Telegram in a competitive mode in the second group. As for the third group, the conventional syllabus of the language school was followed. At the end of the treatment, the researcher gave the participants the reading comprehension posttest. The results of statistical analyses indicated that both MALL-mediated mind mapping interventions were effective on reading comprehension in both competitive and cooperative modes. Moreover, there was a significant difference between MALL-mediated mind mapping in the cooperative and competitive modes on EFL learners’ reading comprehension with the cooperative mode being more effective than the competitive mode.