EXPLORING FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTS" READING COMPREHENSION: THE CASE OF GRADE NINE AT PAWI GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOL

ADVISER SHERIF ALI (PhD) ABSTRUCT The main objective of this study was to explore factors affecting students reading comprehension. Accordingly the study used descriptive survey design to investigate the factors using quantitative and qualitative data collection method. The data instruments of the study were questionnaire and interview. Those tools were used to explore students’ reading comprehension problems. The samples of the study were chosen from Pawi General Secondary School of Grade nine students and EFL teachers. Ninety two sample students were selected by means of systematic random sampling technique, while the two EFL teachers taken using purposive sampling technique for interview. The collected data was analyzed quantitatively for close ended questionnaire via number of frequency and percentage; whereas, students open ended questionnaire and interview were analyzed qualitatively using key ideas of participants. Thus, the outcome of questionnaire and interview revealed that reading strategies like the three reading phases (pre-reading, while reading and post-reading), reading models (bottom-up, top-down, and interactive model) were not practiced properly also teachers’ focusing on grammar teaching and skipping difficult reading lessons were pointed out both in interview and questionnaire. This implies that teachers gave less emphasis for teaching reading lessons. As the study indicated, the other students’ reading factors were: they done not use reading strategies appropriately during reading comprehension; learners faced for lack of reading interest and reading strategy practice towards their reading lessons. But among them the study gave emphasis to the method of teaching reading as the main factor of students’ reading comprehension. To minimize the problem teachers should practice student centered method for the improvement of learners’ comprehension.