THE EFFECT OF READING STRATEGIES ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE READING SKILLS OF STUDENTS

Vasilika Rraku

doi:10.12955/snsj.v7i2.418

Vasilika Rraku Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Tirana, Branch of Saranda

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12955/snsj.v7i2.418

Keywords: Effect, strategies, improvement, skills, reading

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to emphasize the effect that the use of reading strategies can have on the improvement of foreign language reading skills. To indicate the effect of reading strategies on reading skills a study was carried out with university students, respectively eleven students of the second year and twelve students of the third year pursuing their English language studies at the University of Tirana. To this purpose, the students were introduced to different kinds of Reading texts and Close exercises in two different sessions. During the first session students were asked to do the exercises relying on their own knowledge about language and reading, and afterwards they were introduced to different kinds of reading strategies which they practiced for nearly a month. During the second session students were asked to do the new exercises based on the reading strategies they had learned. The results of the study pointed to a noticeable improvement of students’ reading skills once they had used reading strategies to do their exercises. As a conclusion, the article aims to point out that reading strategies are essential for the improvement of reading skills and they should be promoted in English language teaching.

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