Abstract
M.Ed.
The research problem addressed in this project focuses on the role of pictorial information in reading comprehension of grade six pupils in rural primary schools in the Northern Province. The investigation was carried out with the aim of identifying and exploring the possible influence pictures might have in helping to contextualise the reading text. The inquiry was conducted by means of a quasi experimental design study, which included both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. The research population was divided into experimental and control groups.
The over-riding rationale which initiated the investigation came about as a result of the observation that young children are able to interpret and understand television programmes communicated to them through the medium of second languages. Teaching reading comprehension to pupils in a rural environment was assumed to need additional teaching and learning media than the teacher's oral instruction plus the verbal text to help pupils to contextualise and understand the written text. The hypothesis underlying the study is that the use of pictures in reading comprehension can improve pupils' reading performance as well as facilitate the learning of English second language within a particular context at the same time.
The literature review in this investigation was confined to the role of schema or background knowledge in relation to understanding of reading content and also a brief review of socio-cultural influences on the reading process. The literature review stresses the pedagogical significance of relevant schema and culturally based reading text as well as the role of pictorial information assisting text comprehension.
Data collection took place in the classroom set-up. The data were collected from three major sources namely test scores, interviews and observation. The investigation indicated that there appeared to be some positive relationships between the use of pictures in reading comprehension and reading performance for grade six pupils in the experimental group. The findings of the investigation can
be used as a stepping stone towards implementing communicative teaching strategies as well.