Concepts of EFL Reading among Taiwanese College Students of Low Reading Proficiency

Page No.: 
296
Writer(s): 
Hui-Lung Chia, Chung-Shan Medical & Dental College; Hui-Uen Chia, Wu-Feng junior College of Technology & Commerce

This study is an empirical and descriptive exploration of EFL reading concepts
held by Taiwanese college students of low reading proficiency. Fifty subjects
were selected according to their reading comprehension scores on the Secondary
Level English Proficiency Test and were scheduled for interviews. Forty-five
subjects took part in the interviews and their responses were tape-recorded,
transcribed, and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The resu,lts indicate
that there are certain concepts about EFL reading which are shared by the
subjects. Generally they showed little awareness of independent, internally
generated repair strategies, tended to process EFL reading at word level in a
rather analytical fashion, and mainly viewed EFL reading as a language learning
exercise. Several strategies reflecting this restricted view of reading are identified.
The paper concludes with a discussion of pedagogical implications.

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