According to text 9A2CCC, concept mapping

Many English as a foreign language (EFL) students fail to be effective readers because they lack knowledge of vocabulary and appropriate reading strategies. We believe that teaching proper reading strategies can help EFL learners overcome their reading problems, especially when the instruction begins in elementary school. One effective strategy is concept mapping, which is the use of visual tools to help readers understand material by transferring the written content into concrete images. Through concept-mapping activities, learners connect previously learned and newly learned ideas onto a visual representation, or “map.” Research shows that concept maps have positive effects on children’s language skills; for example, Liu et al. (2011) describe how concept mapping “prompts learners to reflect to construct meaning based on their observations and knowledge”, thereby helping “students develop and apply the knowledge about storytelling”.

Concept mapping helps students understand the framework of the subject being taught; clarifies the relationships and connections among all instructional content; reinforces knowledge retention; and enhances an instructor’s teaching objectives. Therefore, when it comes to teaching EFL reading, it is crucial for a teacher to act as facilitator to help learners create meaning on their own by connecting previous knowledge and experience with newly formed knowledge and experience.