Teaching Reading to Young Learners Case of English as a Foreign Language in Primary Education in Tlemcen

Abstract

Algeria knew a total transformation in language policy as English was introduced at the level of primary education (third grade). The research work studied the instruction of foreign language skills for young learners and mainly reading skill, the difficulty as well encountered by primary school English teachers in teaching reading skill in particular. It attempted to seek for young learners’ failure in reading. The investigation relied on one research instrument, a questionnaire designed and delivered on line to sixteen primary school English teachers for the collection of data which was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively .The results revealed that young learners have indeed a great difficulty in decoding English words mainly because they are not able to recognize the relationship between letters and sounds in addition to some extra reasons mentioned in the third chapter. On the basis of these results , various suggestions and recommendations were provided to improve young learners’ reading skill and to ease the task to primary school English teachers among which :more practice and repetition on the board ,extra hours devoted for English language , less crowded classrooms in addition to the ‘necessary’ teaching materials.