Relationships between Text Comprehension and the Ability to Answer the English Questions: Examination based on the Differences in the Types of English Questions

Abstract

The present study examines the relationships between text comprehension measured by the ability to translate text into Japanese and the ability to write answers in English to English questions. It aims at finding an appropriate teaching process to connect text comprehension in Japanese with the basic skills of writing English sentences. Fourteen questions were classified into three types. Thirty-two Japanese high school learners were asked to translate more than one sentence into Japanese and write their answers in English to each question. It was found that the score of comprehending text in Japanese was significantly higher than the score of written answers in English to English questions in the question type requiring higher cognitive skills. It was suggested that cues inducing higher processing of the text should be given to students following translation.