Exploring EFL Learners’ Reading Difficulties in the Algerian Context : Case of First Year ‘’Ahmed BEY’’ Secondary School Pupils of Oudjlida –TLEMCEN

Abstract

Through the reading skill, pupils develop successful language learning, however, this skill needs practice since it is considered as a complex one which leads pupils to face problems while reading. For this reason, this research work was chosen in order to explore reading difficulties faced by First Year ‘Ahmed BEY’ Secondary school pupils who belong to the scientific stream, identify causes which create a gap in EFL pupils’ reading comprehension skill, and observe the way both learning and teaching processes tackle the reading skill. In this way, a triangulation of instruments; a questionnaire, an interview and a classroom observation, have been implemented for the sake of validity and reliability of data collection in quantitative and qualitative research. Thus, the results obtained from the three instruments expose that lack of reading and types of texts are the major causes of hindering pupils’ reading comprehension where majority of EFL pupils suffer in understanding ambiguous and new words, yet, minorities even suffer in pronouncing words and understanding grammar. In this way, it is suggested some innovative ideas for the sake of pupils’ motivation, this lies in recommending text- selection and the use of internet, providing advises to both EFL teachers and pupils, and suggesting the implementation of extensive reading in classroom as the key concept toward learning English successfully