Investigating Reading Challenges Faced by EFL Learners at Elementary Level

Abstract

It is hard to ignore the importance of reading skills for desired proficiency in foreign languages. Reading can be beneficial for learners to immerse themselves in the target language and learn it efficiently. In EFL contexts like Saudi Arabia, learners face many challenges in reading skills. The main purpose of this research was to explore reading problems of elementary level students and causes of the readings skills inabilities. Following random and convenience sampling techniques; this mixed-method research obtained quantitative data from 290 elementary level students and qualitative data from nine teachers and supervisors. The analysis of quantitative data from the reading test and checklist and qualitative data retrieved from interviews suggests that students considerably perform relatively low in reading skills, and the main reasons are poor vocabulary, incorrect pronunciation, wrong spellings, slow reading pace, and flawed grammar. These five areas account for more than 90% of the challenges faced by learners in reading skills. Based on evidence from this research, we suggest that policymakers, teachers, and students should focus on these five areas for solving the issues related to reading skills. Although other avenues are essential, these items demand special attention to develop the reading skills of EFL learners in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the world.Keywords: Reading skill, Elementary level, Reading Pace, EFL

Learners’ Perceptions on WhatsApp Integration as a Learning Tool to Develop EFL Spoken Vocabulary

“…The integration of social media as an auxiliary tool for EFL learners to study language effectively has been investigated quite a lot in many countries (Blattner & Lomicka, 2012;Chang & Hwang, 2018;Coyle, Hood, & Marsh, 2010;Levy & Stockwell, 2013;Mohamad & Woollard, 2010;Stockwell, 2010;Toffoli & Sockett, 2010;Khan, et al,. 2020).…”

Analysis of Underlying Reasons for Low Saudi EFL Performance

“…However, we start with a study that explores reading problems of Saudi EFL learners. (Khan et al, 2020) investigated the reading problems of Saudi EFL learners at the elementary level. This study followed mixed method to collect its data.…”

“…More specifically, they face several language challenges when it comes to a single language skill such as reading, listening, speaking, and writing. Those language learners receive reading difficulties as it is highlighted in (Alkhaleefah, 2017; Elsayed & Puteh-Behak, 2017; Khan et al, 2020), and not only in reading, but they experience a low performance in the other language skills as it is claimed by (Abker, 2020;Ahmed, 2017;Alzinaidi & Latif, 2019). Most of the findings of the previous research were associated to the following; students-related; teachers-related; curricula and assessment-related issues.…”

“…The Saudi ministry of education also included English in their educational system. However, Saudi EFL learners still encounter increased number of challenges and learning difficulties (Alkhaleefah, 2017;Alshammari, 2021; Elsayed & Puteh-Behak, 2017; Khan et al, 2020). Generally speaking, Saudi EFL learners even they exposed to English during more than six years, still they performed less than expected.…”

Revisiting The Theory Of Translation: Investigating The Translation Divan-e Hafiz

“…The verse involves etymological nuances like collocations that need interpretation. Language is a cultural-based concept (Mahmood et al, 2020;Khan et al, 2020). The fact of the matter is that collocations are basically and thoughtfully language and culture explicit, and an interpreter should manage them exactly to keep up social and tasteful qualities.…”