Reading Strategy Use: The Case of High and Low Achievers at Private High Schools of Kb Academy Grade Nine and Ten Students
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Date
2017-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the reading strategies use by high and low achiever of private grade nine and ten students of Addis Ababa. The focus was to attain the type and range of strategy they use and frequency level thereby to assess the differences/similarities in using the reading strategies by high and low achiever students. To this end, thirty students were selected (15 top high achievers and 15 least low achievers) using stratified sampling technique. To measure students’ reading strategy use, Oxford’s (1990) Strategy Inventory Language Learning (SILL) was adapted. The modified self- report questionnaire with 43 items were prepared and administered to all selected students. In addition, interview was conducted with sixteen (8 top high achievers and 8 least low achievers) of the sample population. Data obtained through the questionnaire were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version-20. The descriptive statistics such as frequency counting, mean value, standard deviation, and Independent T-test were considered in discussion. The t-test (with significant difference level p< 0.05) was applied to check if there was a statistically significant difference between high and low achievers in using the main reading strategies. During discussion, data obtained through the self-report questionnaire were cross checked using the data obtained through interview. Results of the study show that there was a relationship between four main strategies use (i.e. memory, cognitive, metacognitive, and social strategies) and language learning achievement. High achiever students were also found to use all the main strategies more often than low achiever students. Based on the findings, it was recommended that awareness raising should be made to enhance students' use of various strategies at higher frequency and the low achievers must be encouraged to use the reading strategies more frequently.
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Reading Strategy Use, High Schools of Kb Academy