A study of teachers' and learners knowledge and application of reading comprehension strategies in selected primary schools in the Khomas region
Loading...
Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Reading with comprehension is a matter of concern in Namibian schools. To read with understanding, reading comprehension strategies should explicitly be taught to learners. Six reading comprehension strategies were identified by researchers as effective in improving reading comprehension. The purpose of this study was to find out whether teachers are acquainted with a range of reading comprehension strategies, whether they are explicitly teaching them and whether they are trained in these strategies. Grade 7 learners’ application of reading comprehension strategies were also observed to see what strategies they apply. Both the Social Cognitive and the Constructivist Theories formed the theoretical framework for this study. A qualitative research design was employed and respondents for the study were selected via purposive sampling from primary schools in the Khomas Region. The sample comprised of seven grade 7 English second language teachers, twelve grade 7 learners, one advisory teacher for European languages and one university lecturer for Teaching Methods of English. Semi- structured interviews were used to collect data. Data analyses were done by coding and categorizing responses into themes. Results are presented based on the themes and patterns that emerged from the data. The main findings were that teachers were aware of and teaching two of the six identified strategies and learners were also acquainted with these two strategies. Most teachers were not aware of three of the identified strategies and consequently also did not teach them to learners. Clear differences were detected between top and low performing schools, for example the strategy of “summarizing” was practiced more by top performing schools than by low performing schools.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education.
Keywords
Reading comprehension