Exploring perceptions on ESL students’ reading habits
List of Authors
  • Noraien Mansor

Keyword
  • Reading habits, reading society, motivation, reading skills

Abstract
  • Malaysia is far from a reading society. In order to advance to a society that loves reading, everybody must claim responsibility for spreading good reading habits as early as possible. Students should practice avid and independent reading, parents should provide a reasonable variety of reading materials at home, and teachers need to understand the individual needs of students of diverse backgrounds with varied habits, interests, attitudes and motivations towards reading. Additionally, the government should revise their policy of exam-oriented education which places too much prominence on examinations and not enough on the importance of the reading process. Thus, this study intends to explore perceptions on ESL students’ reading habits. The findings revealed that the status of ESL students’ reading habits is still bad but it can be enhanced with proper guidance and encouraging activities to motivate students’ to enhance their reading skills. Therefore, it is time for the government and the community to strengthen their moves to promote effective reading habits to curb the vital contemporary issue.

Reference
  • 1. Agnes Gnanapragasam. (1997/98). Reading Habits and Interests Among Secondary School Students. A Case Study On Students At SM Seri Puteri, Ipoh, (A Research Project of Master Degree, University Malaya, Faculty of Business and Accountancy, K.L. U.M, 1997/98).
    2. Ambigapathy, P. (1993). Sociocultural, Socioeconomic and Socio Psychological Correlates of Reading Reluctancy of University Students in Malaysia. (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation), Kuala Lumpur: National University of Malaysia.
    3. Anderson, R. C., Wilson, P. T., & Fielding, L. G. (1988). Growth in Reading and How Children Spend their Time Outside of School. Reading Research Quarterly, 23. 285-303.
    4. Atan bin Long, et al. (1984). A Survey on the Reading Habits and Interests of Malaysian People, KL: DBP.
    5. Doraisamy, J. (1983, September 15). Books and Bookworms: Is Reading a Dying Art in Malaysia? The New Straits Times.
    6. Frank Small & Associates (1996). Study of Reading Habits in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia.
    7. Gengatharan A/L Das. (2004). A Study of Factors Affecting the Reading Habits and Reading Interests in English of Year Five Pupils of Selected Schools in Penang. Masters of Education, University Malaya.
    8. Greaney, V. (1986, April). Parental Influences on Reading. The Reading Teacher. Pp. 813- 817.
    9. Krashen, S. D. (2004). The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research. Westport., CT: Libraries Unlimited, Greenwood Publishing Group.
    10. Mokatsi, R. (2005.) Sharing Resources-how Library Networks can Help Reach Education Goals. East African Book Development Association. A Research Paper Looking at Libraries in the Developing World. Commission by book Aids International.
    11. Morrow, L. M. (1993). Literacy Development in the Early Years – Helping Children Read and Write (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
    12. Norazit, L & Fatimah, H. (1992). Barriers to Reading: An Investigation of Why the Reading Habit has not caught on among Malaysian School Children. Paper presented at the International Conference, ‘Literature in Asian Societies’. 3-5 July 1992. Kuala Lumpur: Lanuage Centre, University Malaya.
    13. Nuttall, C. (1996). Teaching Reading Skills in a Foreign Language. Oxford: The Bath Press.
    14. Stoodt, B. D. , Amspaugh, L. B., & Hunt, J. (1996). Children’s Literature: Discovery for a Lifetime. Scottsdale: Gorsuch Scarisbrick Publishers.
    15. Thangam, A/P Raja Gopal (2003). Motivating Reading Habits Among Students through An Extensive Reading Programme, Masters of Education, University Malaya.