Investigating Reading Proficiency: A Case Study of a Moroccan High School

Abstract

The present study explores students’ primary concerns, perceptions, difficulties and attitudes characterized by a sheer lack of motivation towards reading. It also demonstrates how a language teacher can prosper in his/her own undertaking to bring about a community of readers with a want to read. This study covers an important comparison between students of three different levels, namely Common Core, First and Second year Baccalaureate. Likewise, it tries to explore the extent to which unmotivated readers are prone to meet the challenges all along the assigned reading tasks. A questionnaire was designed for analyzing the barriers towards attaining reading proficiency. It was also geared to determine the things that should be done to overcome the obstacles towards achieving the aspired reading competence. The results from this study imply that there is reason to suggest the need to develop a want in students to read via breathing life into comprehension texts presented to students. This can be done through integrating more illustrations and key vocabulary rubrics. Equally important, reading texts in students’ textbooks need to be given due importance, and dedicated efforts are to be considered on the part of textbook designers to help students attain and boost their reading skills. Reading, if done extensively, helps develop the reader’s reading competence and ultimately becomes an essential tool for academic success.

Morpho-Syntactic Translations: An Error Analysis

“…This research employed translation tests to obtain the results needed for the research. The translation test utilized was adapted from Langga & Alico's (2020) study. The outputs of the participants were evaluated using the framework of Gass & Selinker (2008) that involves a five-step procedure: collection of data, identification of errors, quantification of errors, analysis of source of errors, and remediation.…”

“…In the study of Langga and Alico (2020), it revealed that the participants also commit the same error.For instance, the phrase "…nagsasagawa ng teknolohikal na interbensiyon ang mga siyentista…" was translated "…scientist conduct of technology that intervention…" The example, "ang mga siyentista" suggests that the subject is plural because of the determiner "mga", which requires a plural verb. The error revealed that the participant did not consider the rule of subject-verb agreement because there is no such rule in the SL.…”

“…In the study of Alico & Langga (2020), the failure of applying inflection occurred in the translation of the word "pag-clone." In Alico & Langga's (2020) analysis, the word "pag-clone" a noun refering to the "act of cloning". The participants' inflection is likewise a noun, but it refers to the duplicated mammal rather than the act itself.…”

“…The students also demonstrated their limited abilities in appropriately building syntax and using English collocations. Langga & Alico (2020) revealed that the participants, who learn Filipino and English, as a second language, lack familiarity and mastery of skills in both.…”

“…According to Sumalinog (2018), students are struggling to retain and apply grammar principles and patterns, and several of their errors were ones that had already been covered in-depth in earlier grade levels. Moreover, Langga & Alico (2020) noted that despite government efforts to strengthen the education system by adopting the K-to-12 curriculum, large gaps in its effectiveness remain unfilled, including students' inadequately developed language skills.…”