Investigating the Reading Difficulties of Magister Students of Physics vis-à-vis Their General English knowledge, University of Constantine

Authors

  • Djihed AZEROUAL Department of Languages, University of Constantine 1

Abstract

This paper reports on a study which investigates the reading comprehension problems and difficulties of magister students of Physics while reading scientific texts and elicits their reading difficulties in English. The results were obtained from a students’ questionnaire and a test. The analysis of the data proved that the students’ difficulties are due to their linguistic handicap mainly in grammar and vocabulary. Furthermore, it confirms that these students’ have a poor level in General English which compounds their reading comprehension difficulties. These results lead us to believe that the teaching/ learning situation of English at the Physics Department, at the University of Constantine should be re-considered. For that, we suggest to implement reading courses to reinforce the students’ General English knowledge and promote their reading comprehension of scientific texts

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

- Aebersold, J. A., & Field, M. L. (1997). From reader to reading teacher: Issues and strategies for second language classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

- Alderson, J.C. (2000). Assessing reading. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

- Bernhardt, B. E. (2011). Understanding advanced second-language reading. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

- Boyle, R. E. (1993). EST or GEP: A question of priorities. System. 21,79-85.

- Grabe, W. (2009). Reading in a second language. In R.B. Kaplan (Ed.). The oxford handbook of applied linguistics (pp.49-59). New York: Oxford University Press.

- Grellet, F. (1981). Developing reading skill. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

- Hedgock J. S. & D. R. Ferris (2009). Teaching readers of English. New York, Routledge.

- Hudson, T. (2007). Teaching second language reading. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

- Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987) English for specific purposes: A learning-centered approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

- Landau,L.D., & Kitaigorodsky, A.L. (1978). Molecules. Vol.2. Physics for everyone. Moscow: Mir Publishers. 29-31.

- Lems, K. D. Miller & T. Soro (2010). Teaching reading to English language learners. New York, the Guilford Press.

- Nation, F.S.P. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL reading and writing. New York. Routledge.

- Steinhausen, P. (1993, April). From general English to ESP: Bridging the gap. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southeast Asian ministers of education organization regional languages center seminar, Singapoure.

- Trimble, L. (1985). English for science and technology. Rowley, MA: Newbury House.

- Wallace, C. (2003). Critical reading in language education. New York , Palgrave Macmillan.

Published

2014-06-01

How to Cite

AZEROUAL, D. (2014). Investigating the Reading Difficulties of Magister Students of Physics vis-à-vis Their General English knowledge, University of Constantine. Journal of Human Sciences , 25(1), 89–98. Retrieved from https://revue.umc.edu.dz/h/article/view/1528

Issue

Section

Articles