The use of email attachments to increase reading compliance in foreign language classes

Abstract

This is the first quantitative research on reading compliance in foreign language courses. It investigated the effect of email attachments with the assigned readings to promote reading compliance of the textbook. Their effect on learning gains was measured by 16 grammar or vocabulary quizzes during a semester. 31 intermediate L2 Spanish students assigned to two group conditions, those receiving the emails and those who did not, also completed a questionnaire at the end of the semester about their preparedness for the quizzes and about their opinions about the email attachments. Results indicated that participants in the email group prepared more often for the next class and obtained significantly better grades in the quizzes than those in the regular one. Pushing the readings at students via regular emails helped them access the contents to read them before class, which in turn increased their preparedness and boosted their leaning gains.