The Use of Reading Strategies among Non-English Majors: A Study in Nong Lam University

The Use of Reading Strategies among Non-English Majors: A Study in Nong Lam University

Nguyen Dinh Nhu Ha* ha.nguyendinhnhu@hcmuaf.edu.vn Nong Lam University - Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Ngo Phan Lan Dung dung.ngophanlan@hcmuaf.edu.vn Nong Lam University - Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Huynh Thi Cam Loan loan.huynhthicam@hcmuaf.edu.vn Nong Lam University - Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Le Thi Thuy Trang trang@ou.edu.vn Open University - Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Summary: 
In reality, reading plays an important role in the academic and career development of learners. Learners need to work through a large number of foreign language books for their general and specialist subjects at school. Therefore, reading skills have been the subject of many investigations in the field of English language teaching and learning so far. Most researchers have been trying to find effective ways to improve learners’ reading skills. With a new perspective, this study aimed to discover the use of reading strategies among non-English majors at NLU. The methods of the research used both a quantitative and qualitative approach based on the theory of the case study. A total of one hundred and fifty university freshmen took part in answering the questionnaire, and five students responded to the semi-structured interview questions. The results revealed that students at NLU frequently used reading strategies when they had reading lessons. Among reading strategies, cognitive strategies were used more frequently than metacognitive and socioaffective strategies. Based on the findings, several implications were made to contribute to teaching and learning reading skills.
Keywords: 
reading skills
reading strategies
non-English majors
Vietnamese university context
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