Effects of Print Media: A Study of Reading Skills among University EFL Students

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to investigate the effectiveness of reading materials of print media (hereinafter PM). The Quasi-experimental design and a structured questionnaire were selected to investigate the impact of PM, such as locally published English newspapers and magazines, to improve the reading competence of Preparatory Year Programme (henceforth PYP) students of English Language Centre of Taif University (hereinafter TUELC). One experimental group comprised of fifteen students was selected from PYP classes to determine the effectiveness of PM material among PYP students of TUELC. Four units were selected from the prescribed English for Academic Purposes (EAP) textbooks along with supporting reading materials adapted from PM for improving reading skills of the students. The results of the students’ performance were also substantiated by the opinions of the PYP teachers about the use of PM through a structured questionnaire. In an effort to address the issue relating to the use of PM, the present study tried to explore the role of PM in the interaction of the Saudi EFL classrooms with special reference to the PYP students of Taif University. The findings of the present study reveal that the Saudi PYP EFL teachers, as represented by the cohort this study, bear quite positive attitudes towards the use of materials adapted from local English newspapers and magazines. The present study concludes with recommendations on how PM can be employed to enhance reading skills in the Saudi PYP EFL classrooms.

Keywords: Print media materials, reading competence, EFL classrooms, reading strategy use, and Saudi classroom interactants,