Using Chinese Learning Materials with LingQ Application to Develop Reading Skills of Lower Secondary Students

Abstract

Reading competence is widely recognized as a fundamental component of foreign language learning, as it strongly influences students’ academic performance and long-term educational achievement. Within the context of Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) education in Thailand, many lower secondary school students experience difficulties in areas such as reading comprehension, vocabulary identification, and learning motivation. These challenges may hinder students’ overall learning effectiveness and engagement in Chinese language learning.

This study investigates the effectiveness of integrating picture-supported Chinese learning materials with the LingQ mobile application to improve reading skills and learning motivation among lower secondary students. A one-group pretest–posttest research design was adopted.

The participants involved in this research were 23 Grade 7 students from a public secondary school located in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The instructional intervention was carried out over a period of four weeks. During this time, classroom activities were supported through the LingQ platform, where carefully selected picture-based Chinese reading materials were incorporated into the lessons to help improve students’ reading skills. To evaluate the learning outcomes, data were collected using three different instruments: a Chinese reading proficiency test, a student attitude questionnaire, and classroom observation records. The analysis of the results indicated that students’ Chinese reading abilities improved noticeably after the intervention. Taken together, the findings suggest that the integration of picture-supported Chinese learning materials with mobile language learning tools can effectively facilitate Chinese reading instruction. Such an approach not only helps stimulate students’ interest in learning Chinese but also provides meaningful support for the sustainable development of foreign language education at the lower secondary level.