Four-Word Frames: Enhancing the English Reading Comprehension and Rule Induction Skills of Public Health Students in a Thai University

Abstract

This study explores the effectiveness of four-word frame training in enhancing the reading comprehension and contextual word-guessing skills of Thai public health students studying English as a Foreign Language. A mixed-methods approach was employed with 22 fourth-year undergraduate students, combining quantitative pre- and post-test assessments with qualitative surveys and interviews. A specialized corpus of public health research articles was created and analyzed using the AntConc corpus analysis software, which identified 50 frequent four-word frames. These frames were categorized into six main patterns, forming the basis for training sessions. Students were taught to identify and apply these frames to academic texts to improve their ability to infer word meaning from context. The findings showed a substantial improvement in reading comprehension, with average test scores increasing significantly after the training. However, individual performance varied, with some less engaged students showing only minimal improvement, indicating that the approach may not be universally effective. Nonetheless, most participants found the training beneficial, particularly for analyzing word patterns using the AntConc software. These results suggest that four-word frame training is a valuable tool for improving reading comprehension in specialized fields like public health, but personalized approaches may be necessary to support diverse learner needs. Further research should investigate the long-term retention of these skills and their application across different academic disciplines.