Reading
By
Nickyta Nur Aryda
Reading is one of the
four language skills in language learning and also one of the hardest for
foreign language learners. It is important for language learners to learn
reading because it can help them when they are communicate using written media
such as letter, announcement, notification, and etc.
Many or any people can read a text but hardly can understand
what the writing was all about. This is because the reading was not providing
any information to the reader. This happened when the reader merely read the
text without understanding the content. So it defeats the purpose of reading as
a means to gain information. If we do not understand what we are reading, we
cannot learn or remember it. Comprehending is a major concerned, then, of all
teachers who use printed material in the classroom.
Since reading is very important in learning second language,
a great effort has been given to develop reading skill. Although many ways have
been promoted in order to improve reading skill among students, reading is still
something that is seems problematic. Students can't understand English text.
These problems occurred because the students are lacking of vocabulary, hardly
understand the words and less interest to English subject. Besides that, there
are also several factors contributing to the diffident of this particular
skill. Those factors are home, school and social environment. If the student is
living in a family where English to them is a familiar language, frequently
spoken by the members of the family then the student will have the advantage of
being exposed to the language. Unlike student with no English familiarity in
his family where English is seen as a bizarre language to be spoken, this kind
of environment demodulates his motivation to learn the language.
Moreover, school is also one of the factors that contribute
to the incompetence in reading. This is where the role of teacher in promoting
the language to the students. Some teacher just might not fully use English
during English class especially in the primary school. This is just because the
teacher intended to suit her level with the students and as a result a lot of
code switching is used. This early exposure to the lack of using English in
class causes a serious impact when they further their study in a higher
education level. To them English is not something important. Even if it does,
they still can code switch as what their teacher did during their schooling
period.
Another factor is the environment factor. We are from what
we come from. If the environment around us allows us to speak English for
example to have colleagues who are willing to speak English, this would be a
good drive. But what actually happen in the Malaysian society is that people
are hesitate to speak English in public among friends, neighbors etceteras.
Although the factors discussed are concerning around the
speaking skill, but as mentioned earlier that all skills are related to each
other. When the students are no longer interested to speak in English, their
passions for the language will also deteriorating. These will also affecting
their reading skills and their ability to understand English text.
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