scholarly journals A Study of Factors Affecting EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension Skill and the Strategies for Improvement

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Pourhosein Gilakjani ◽  
Narjes Banou Sabouri
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Academic Tasks ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Comprehension Skill ◽  
Written Materials

<p>Reading comprehension is a significant skill that furthers the development of learners’ various academic tasks. It helps them decoding a text, analyzing, explaining, and expressing their own ideas about written materials. Learners should develop a strong ability to understand written materials to struggle with the academic tasks that their teachers deal with them. A primary objective of reading comprehension is to aid learners improve skills and comprehension of texts if they want to be skilled readers. In this review paper, the researchers define the term reading comprehension and reading strategies, elaborate previous findings about the relationship between reading strategies and reading comprehension skill, state factors affecting reading comprehension skill, explain the effective strategies for reading comprehension, and finally mention suggestions for improving reading comprehension skill. The findings of this review paper indicated that appropriate reading strategies play a vital role in improving EFL learners’ reading comprehension skill.</p>

scholarly journals The Contributions of Reading Strategies and Reading Frequencies toward Students’ Reading Comprehension Skill in Higher Education

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6S3) ◽  
pp. 593-597
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Reading Skill ◽  
Scale Reading ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Comprehension Skill ◽  
Correlational Design ◽  
Comprehension Skills ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Reading Comprehension Skills

This study was conducted because of the low level of students’ reading skill. The reading strategies and the reading frequencies were assumed as the factors affecting students’ reading skill. The aim of this study was to describe and to analyze the contribution of reading strategies and reading frequencies toward students’ reading comprehension skill. This study used the quantitative method with the descriptive correlational design. The population was 3000 students who attended Bahasa Indonesia subject in Universitas Negeri Padang, and 353 students were taken as samples by using proportional stratified random sampling. The instruments of this study were reading strategies scale, reading frequencies scale and a reading comprehension test which has been valid and reliable. Based on research findings and discussion, the following can be concluded: (1) reading strategies contributed significance and positively to the students' comprehension reading skill which is 19.6% (R = 0.443 R2 = 0.196 and p = 0.000), i.e. reading strategies contributed directly toward the skills of reading comprehension. Therefore, the higher the reading strategies, the better the reading comprehension skills of the students; (2) reading strategies contributed significance toward the students' reading comprehension skills of 33.1% (R = 0.575 R2 = 0.331 and p = 0.000), i.e. reading frequencies contributed directly to reading comprehension skills. Therefore, the better the reading frequencies, the better the reading comprehension skills of the students; (3) reading strategies and the reading frequencies together contributed significance toward the students' reading comprehension skills of 33.2% (R = 0.575, R2 = 0.332 and p = 0.000), i.e. reading strategies and reading frequencies together contributed directly to the comprehension reading skill. Therefore, the higher the reading strategies and reading frequencies will be the better the reading comprehension skill of the students.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Reading Comprehension among Malaysian ESL Elementary Learners

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunmi Miyane
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Comprehension Skill ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Esl Learners ◽  
Level 2

This study explored Level 2 primary school English as a Second Language (ESL) learners’ reading comprehension skill of a sub-urban school in Mukah, Sarawak. The objectives of this study were to identify the factors that contri- buted to learners’ comprehension skill, and to compare these factors in term of gender. The respondents comprised of 50 males and 50 females aged be- tween 10 to 12 years old from major ethnics in Mukah namely, Melanau, Iban, Malay and Chinese. A set of questionnaire that consisted of 16 questions were administered via Google Form. The findings suggested that motivation and interest, prior knowledge and vocabulary knowledge influenced learners’ reading comprehension skill. In addition, there was no significant relationship between genders and these factors. The findings from this research were important to determine reading strategies based on the factors listed to help the poor readers.

scholarly journals Reading Comprehension Strategies among EFL Learners in Higher Learning Institutions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Hamza Al-Jarrah ◽  
Nur Salina binti Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Conceptual Knowledge ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Comprehension Strategies ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Reading Comprehension Strategies ◽  
Reading Materials ◽  
Learning Institutions

A variety of reading strategies are required to comprehend reading materials. Without effective reading strategies, students mostly face reading comprehension difficulties. This study aims to investigate reading comprehension strategies among English foreign language (EFL) learners in higher learning institutions. The study employed qualitative method and 10 Arab students of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) were interviewed. Inductive thematic approach was used to analyze data. The findings indicates that the most commonly used reading strategies among the EFL learners are logical knowledge (under linguistic schema), formal construction (under formal schema), cultural knowledge (under cultural schema), and prior knowledge and conceptual knowledge (under content schema). This study concludes that reading strategies help the EFL learners in understanding English reading materials. To improve reading strategies for EFL learners, there is a need for collective effort of English language teachers, curriculum designers, educationists, education policy makers, and the EFL learners themselves.

scholarly journals A Review of Studies on Cognitive and Metacognitive Reading Strategies in Teaching Reading Comprehension for ESL/EFL Learners

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Aziza M. Ali ◽  
Abu Bakar Razali
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Correct Reading ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Metacognitive Reading Strategies

Being able to read well is important for English language learners. Through the process of reading, the learner becomes an active participant in producing an interaction with the writer of the text through predicting, analyzing, summarizing and using other types of reading strategies. However, building such a connection between the reader and the written information of the text is complex and for English as a second language (ESL) and English as a foreign language (EFL) students, it can be quite difficult for them to apply different types of reading strategies. This article provides a review of literature on 27 studies on the teaching of reading strategies (particularly cognitive and metacognitive reading strategies) for ESL/EFL learners, which reveals that ESL/EFL teachers need to keep updating their teaching methods to meet the ESL/EFL students&rsquo; needs, particularly in the use of correct reading strategies. The authors also highlight some of the main issues that prevent ESL/EFL students from improving and developing their reading comprehension. Furthermore, the authors discuss and conclude the article by suggesting to ESL/EFL teachers some teaching strategies to be applied in the reading lesson to improve the ESL/EFL students&rsquo; use of reading strategies.

scholarly journals Texts with Various Levels of Hardness, Reading Comprehension and Reading Motivation: I+1 Versus I-1

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Namaziandost ◽  
Fariba Rahimi Esfahani ◽  
Mehdi Nasri
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Motivation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Difficulty Level ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Comprehensible Input ◽  
Post Test

Considering the vital role of comprehensible input, this study attempted to compare the effects of input with various difficulty levels on Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension and reading motivation. To fulfil this objective, 54 Iranian pre-intermediate EFL learners were selected from two intact classes (n = 27 each). The selected participants were randomly assigned to two equal groups, namely “i+1” (n=27) and “i-1” group (n=27). Then, the groups were pretested by a researcher-made reading comprehension test. After carrying out the pre-test, the treatment (i.e., extensive reading at different levels of difficulty) was practiced on the both groups. The participants in “i+1” group received reading passages beyond the current level, on the other hand, the “i-1” group received those reading passages which were below their current level. After the instruction ended, a modified version of pre-test was conducted as posttest to determine the impacts of the treatment on the students’ reading comprehension. The obtained results indicated that there was a significant difference between the post-tests of “i+1” and “i-1” groups. The findings showed that the “i+1” group significantly outperformed the “i-1” group (p < .05) on the post-test. Moreover, the findings indicated that “i+1” group’s motivation increased after the treatment. The implications of the study suggest that interactive type of input is beneficial to develop students’ language skills. Keywords: Comprehensible Input; Extensive reading; Foreign language reading motivation; Input; Reading comprehension; Text difficulty level

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Writing Skill Using Computer Assisted Test (CAT) in Junior High School Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.13) ◽  
pp. 447
Author(s):  
Raheni Suhita ◽  
Herman J. Waluyo ◽  
Budhi Setiawan
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Junior High ◽  
Junior High School Students ◽  
School Students ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Comprehension Skill ◽  
Writing Skill

This study aimed to determine the factors affecting writing skill quality and the level of their contribution to help language teachers to formulate more effective strategies using CAT to enhance writing skill. The correlating factors discussed in this research were students’ reading comprehension skill, vocabulary mastery, and attitude toward language.  The study applied quantitative approach with simple and multiple correlation and regression techniques. The samples of the study were 100 students taken using stratified random sampling technique from a population of 2000 junior high school students in Surakarta City. The data were collected using multiple choice test for students’ reading comprehension skills and vocabulary mastery, writing assignments, and questionnaires for their attitudes toward the Indonesian language. The findings showed that there are positive correlations between the independent variables, either individually or simultaneously, with writing skill. The individual contribution levels is 44.75% of reading comprehension skill, 27.70% of vocabulary mastery, and 28.5% of attitude toward language. As for the simultaneous correlation of the three determining factors make up to 45.16%. contribution level to writing skill quality. Thus it can be concluded that reading comprehension has the most contribution to writing skill compared to vocabulary mastery and attitude toward language. The identified levels of contribution can be taken into consideration in formulating teaching strategies and materials to enhance writing skill quality.  

scholarly journals The Effects of Collaborative and Non- Collaborative Approaches to Teaching Reading Strategies on Iranian efl Learners’ Reading Comprehension and Attitude toward Reading

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-73
Author(s):  
Azadeh Rajaei ◽  
Seyed Hassan Talebi ◽  
Shirin Abadikhah
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Strategy Instruction ◽  
Reading Strategy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Teaching Reading ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Reading Strategy Instruction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Experimental Group

In an EFL context reading is a very important skill in language learning. This study aims at finding if instruction of reading strategies in two different collaborative and non-collaborative approaches affects reading comprehension and attitude toward reading differently. Forty-five Iranian adult female EFL learners at pre-intermediate general English proficiency level in Iran Language Institute (ili) were selected and divided into three groups of 15 students. One group functioning as the control group did not receive any strategy instruction; the second group, as the first experimental group, received reading strategy instruction in collaborative groups (Collaborative Strategic Reading or csr), and the third group considered as the second experimental group received reading strategy instruction in a non-collaborative way. A reading comprehension test and a reading attitude questionnaire were given to all three groups at the beginning of the term as pretests and after the experiment as posttests. The results obtained through one-way anova indicated that though both experimental groups outperformed the control group, there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups in reading comprehension and attitude toward reading. Therefore, it is up to teachers to weigh the advantages of using the collaborative approach to teaching reading against its disadvantages.

scholarly journals Role of Content Schema in Reading Comprehension Among Saudi EFL Students: EFL Teachers’ Perspective and Use of Appropriate Classroom Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
AbdulRahman Al Asmari ◽  
Choudhary Zahid Javid
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Background Knowledge ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Classroom Strategies ◽  
English Language Teachers

This empirical survey investigates the perceptions of English language teachers towards the role of content schemata in reading comprehension among Saudi EFL learners. Furthermore, it also attempts to explore the use of appropriate classroom strategies employed by English language teachers to activate content schemata to enhance learners’ reading comprehension. A modified Likert-scale strongly-agree to strongly-disagree questionnaire was administered to 61 male and female EFL faculty from English Language Center (ELC), Taif University to generate data. The findings have reinforced that background knowledge of Saudi EFL learners help them significantly in reading faster with better understanding. It has also been reported that pre-reading strategies of brainstorming, classroom discussions about the topic and questioning are the most favored ones to activate Saudi EFL learners’ background knowledge. It has also been learnt that while-reading strategies of directing the students’ attention to signal words, main idea, important phrases, titles, subtitles and effectively linking the target text to their students’ cultural and social experiences also contribute towards reading comprehension. The findings have also revealed that English language teachers consider low English language proficiency and poor reading skills of Saudi ELF leaners as well as the lack of appropriate teaching aids as the major obstacles in activating the content schemata. Several recommendations have been forwarded which have significant pedagogical implications in materializing much sought-after goal of effective ELT in the KSA by ensuring better reading skills among Saudi EFL learners.

scholarly journals Mother Tongue as an Asset in Developing l2 Reading Comprehension Skill Among Iranian EFL Learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Farzaneh Iranmanesh ◽  
Mohammad Golshan
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Control Group ◽  
L2 Reading ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Comprehension Skill ◽  
Motivation And Confidence ◽  
L2 Reading Comprehension

This study attempted to explore the effect of teachers switching to l1 on developing l2 reading comprehension among learners and to justify the assumption that their switching to l1 can be purposeful, following pedagogical goals. To this respect two groups of students majoring at English teaching were selected from intact classes ,one as the control group, the other as the experimental receiving l2-only and l2 plus l1switching instruction respectively for their reading comprehension course with the same teacher under equal condition (highly attempted).The result showed that non/low proficient l2 readers who rely more on translation in the process of comprehending English texts made more advantage of the teacher’s implementing strategy and developed more than other participants. That is; apart from various reading strategies utilized by EFl learners, teachers’ code switching as a compensation strategy to clarify the complex unknown (assumed for the learners) syntactic/semantic structures plays a prominent role in facilitating the struggling task of comprehension among learners. It also justified the premise that insisting on l2-only instruction in reading comprehension is not facilitating but frustrating and time consuming. However, systematic switching to l1 can be developmental and timesaving through making positive effect on comprehension, motivation and confidence. Hence this study can provide language teachers with pedagogical implications for non-proficient l2 readers particularly at the early years of learning process.

scholarly journals ENGLISH-MAJORED STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING AND THEIR USE OF READING STRATEGIES: RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Tran Quoc Thao ◽  
Nguyen Hoang Chau Long
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Cognitive Strategies ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research Perspectives

Reading plays a vital role in improving second/foreign language learning as it can encourage the development of autonomous learners. Furthermore, ESL/EFL learners’ use of reading strategies can be affected by their learning motivation, which can result in the high or low frequent use of reading strategies in reading comprehension. The present study, therefore, investigated the motivation in English language learning and the use of reading strategies among English-majored freshmen at a university in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 180 English-majored freshmen, six of whom took part in semi-structured interviews. The results showed that participants had a high level of motivation in English language learning, and their metacognitive strategies worked better with their reading comprehension than their cognitive and social/affective strategies. The study further unraveled that the more participants were motivated in English language learning, the more they employed metacognitive and cognitive strategies in reading comprehension.

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