English As Second Language: Students' Awareness Of Learning Strategies Used In Reading Comprehension

Irshad Husain*, Muhammad Javed**, Parveen Munshi***
* Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Educational Training, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
** Lecturer, Department of Educational Training, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
*** Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Sindh, Hyderabad, Pakistan.
Periodicity:January - March'2015
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.5.1.3132

Abstract

This study investigated reading strategies used by adult learners' to read materials in English language for their studies. The population of the study consisted of students of Universiti Sains Malaysia. A sample of 80 (40 postgraduate and 40 undergraduate) TESOL students enrolled in the University was selected randomly. The data were collected by administering a piloted questionnaire and analyzed through SPSS. The results of the study revealed that TESOL students used different strategies in reading textual materials. The main reading strategies appeared to be adjusting reading speed;focusing on typographical features; summarizing; re-reading the text; taking notes; reviewing the text; underlining or circlingimportant information; using tables, figures, pictures and contextual clues, and guessing the meaning of unknown words and/ or phrases. The study further demonstrated that in spite of using the mentioned reading strategies; the learners need to know how to use dictionaries, pauses, visualization and critical evaluation of the text. Based on findings of the study preparation of proper guidelines and their effective use by TESOL students, teachers and researchers to enhance reading comprehension were recommended.

Keywords

Reading Comprehension, TESOL(Teaching English as a Second Language) Students, Reading Strategies, Critical Evaluation, Reading Speed

How to Cite this Article?

Husain, I., Javed, M., and Munshi, P. (2015). English As Second Language: Students' Awareness Of Learning Strategies Used In Reading Comprehension. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 5(1), 11-18. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.5.1.3132

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