Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to enhance reading comprehension skills in students of
Rashadiyya Islamic Junior High School. The objectives of the study are; to identify
challenges students encounter in reading comprehension, adopt effective
comprehension strategies to overcome challenges students encounter in reading
comprehension and identify effects of challenges on the performance of students. The
study adopted the qualitative research approach with an interview guide and
observation technique. The sample is made up of thirty-six (36) students drawn from
one hundred and forty-seven students. The findings of the study showed that the phonic
technique, which is commonly used for teaching reading at all levels, is the greatest
strategy for teaching students to enhance their reading comprehension. It further
showed that students face various levels of difficulties which include mispronunciation
and word substitution; skipping and omitting words while reading, a limited grasp of
English alphabet and sounds. The study concludes that reading difficulties faced by
Basic 8 students of Rashadiyya Islamic Junior High School could be significant barriers
to the development of effective reading comprehension skills among the students. The
study recommends that English Language teachers of Rashadiyya Islamic Junior High
School should facilitate students learning using phonic method of teaching reading.
Description:
A dissertation in the Department of Applied Linguistics
Faculty of Foreign Languages Education, submitted to the
School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Education
(Teaching English as a Second Language)
in the University of Education, Winneba
