FACTORS AFFECTING STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION OF ASELLA PREPARATORY SCHOOL: GRADE 11 IN FOCUS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess factors affecting students’ reading comprehension of texts in Asella Preparatory School. To conduct this study, mixed research design was employed. The sample for the study comprised Asella Preparatory school selected using purposive sampling. The study participants comprised of 136 Asella Preparatory sschool grade 11 students selected by random sampling and 5 English teachers selected by available sampling. The data were collected by using questionnaire, interview and observation. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis were employed in order to reach at results. The major findings indicated that the respondents agree to the majority of opinion factors related to language knowledge, habit and interest affecting students’ reading comprehension. The finding also revealed that students agreed the opinion students unable to distinguish main ideas from minor details, students unable to monitor reading comprehension and students unable to analyze unfamiliar words which affect student’s reading comprehension. Moreover, the finding revealed that the respondents agree the opinion teacher at grade 11 of this preparatory never take difficult words from the reading text and made the students to give the meaning of the words so as to help comprehending easily. The result of the study also shows that the respondents agreed the opinion there is a gap at teachers to made students to scan the reading text for specific information. Based on the finding the main conclusion was factors related to language knowledge, habit, interest, students and teachers related factors tend to be very serious. Based on the research conclusion, the study recommended that the teacher expected to make students to predict what will come next. It is also recommended that teacher expected to take difficult words from the reading text and made the students to give the meaning of the words so as to help comprehending easily. It is also recommended that teacher expected to ask students to scan the reading text for specific information. The study also recommended that English teachers department of the school should have conduct training program and ensure factors related to students background knowledge, habit and interest and texts (text type and text features). The study also recommended that top school management expected to educate family to encourage students to read different reading materials and help students by providing different reading materials.