A Comparison of The Reading Level of Bahir Dar Teachers' College Freshman Students With The Reading Levels Expected of Them
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Date
1988-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study is primarily to find out the gap between
the actual reading ability and what is expected of the Bahir Dar Teachers7
College freshman students in their subject area text books. Its
secondary purpose is to investigate whether a significant difference
exists between and among the groups of the sample population due to some
variables.
In order to accomplish this goal, eleven degree and seventeen
diploma English students, sixteen degree and thirty-four diploma
Geography students totalling seventy-eight were taken as a sample
population representing the social science freshman students.
Six passages from English for New Ethiopia series were taken for
both department students and three passages related to their field
of studies for each department students were cposen based on the
instructions recommended by Fry;s (1968) formula (graph). C10ze and
comprehension tests were set and administered to the sample population
and the necessary statistical data were obtained using a computer.
Besides, c10ze and comprehension error analyses of the student~l
responses were done. ~~i1e the result of the cloze analysis indicates
that the students lack an adequate knowledge of the English grammar
and sufficent vocabulary stock, the analysis of the comprehension
question responses show that they are deficient in the higher
comprehension skills.
Apart from the c10ze and comprehension tests, a questionnaire
was administered to see whether differences exist between the groups
due to the variables stated in the questionnaire. The result,
however, indicates no sirnificant difference amonp the prouns except for
two cases.
In general, the result of the study reveals that the 8ctual reading
ability of the two dep~rtment students enables them to read text books
of grade four djfficulty levels with the help o~ a teacher. This
implies that the students' readinp ability is ~ar below the expected
standard and the problem is acute.
The researcher hopes that the conc€rned autho,ities should do
something in order to solve the nroblcm.
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Freshman Students