Effects Of Online Glosses On The Outcomes In L2Vocabulary And Reading Comprehension:an Empirical Study

Use of glossing in the reading comprehension may be one way to facilitate L2vocabulary learning and reading comprehension. Studies in this field indicate online glosses are more effective in L2vocabulary learning than traditional glosses, and that multiple glosses are better than a single gloss to some extent, but it still remains disputable about which single glossing type is the best way to enhance the L2vocabulary learning and reading comprehension.Based on Input Hypothesis Theory and Cognitive Learning Theory, this study tries to employ three single glossing types (L1, L2, and picture) through the use of a hyperlink that links to the target words in the reading passage to investigate their effects on the outcomes in L2vocabulary learning and reading comprehension. Ninety freshmen from three non-English major classes were selected from a public university in Zhejiang Province, and were divided into three groups equipped with LI, L2, and picture gloss respectively. They are required to take an immediate vocabulary and reading comprehension test and a delayed vocabulary test. All the score data are handled by One-Way ANOVA and One-Way MANOVA through SPSS16.0.Results show that there is significant difference on the outcomes of students’L2vocabulary and reading comprehension by using three kinds of online glosses [F (4,172)=34.16, p=.000<.025]; Picture gloss (M=40.33, SD=6.814) is the most effective way of the L2vocabulary learning and Chinese gloss (M=37.50, SD=7.740) of the reading comprehension in the immediate test; Picture gloss (M=38.33,SD=7.350) remains the best way of L2vocabulary retention in the delayed test; English gloss is less effective than the other two online glosses both in the immediate and delayed test.The results of the study suggest that appropriate single online gloss can improve L2vocabulary and reading comprehension scores effectively; These results can contribute to the development of College English teaching and compiling industry; Limitations and recommendations for future studies are also identified.