The Effects of semantic web Strategy on Reading Comprehension

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of semantic web technique on improving Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension. To accomplish the purpose of the study, quasi experimental design was utilized, that is in order to homogenize the samples, ‘Oxford Placement Test’ was administered. And twenty eight students (two groups) were randomly chosen from 140 participants. They were assigned to a control and an experimental group with 14 students in each group. Both groups received reading comprehension instruction except for the fact that subjects in the experimental group were also given lots of semantic web technique. The instrument used in this study was a reading comprehension test containing two tests as pre-test and post-test. Results of Independent sample t-tests indicated a significant improvement in the reading scores of the subjects in the experimental group. Finding support the argument regarding to the importance of the tactic on attracting learners’ interest and activating their prior knowledge. The technique can both make a task less cognitively demanding and give learners a sense of security.