Exploring Grade 8 English First Additional Language learners’ reading comprehension challenges
Background: Reading is valued as a critical aspect of literacy, but there is a concern about the regression in reading comprehension that remains a global issue. Consequently, most countries around the world are worried about learners’ poor reading skills. Objectives: The study investigated the rea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Reading & Writing |
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| Online Access: | https://rw.org.za/index.php/rw/article/view/556 |
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| author | Agnitius Molwantoa Florence Olifant Madoda Cekiso |
| author_facet | Agnitius Molwantoa Florence Olifant Madoda Cekiso |
| author_sort | Agnitius Molwantoa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Reading is valued as a critical aspect of literacy, but there is a concern about the regression in reading comprehension that remains a global issue. Consequently, most countries around the world are worried about learners’ poor reading skills.
Objectives: The study investigated the reading comprehension challenges of Grade 8 English First Additional Language (EFAL) learners.
Method: This qualitative study used a case study design and thematic data analysis to process and analyse the data. The purposively selected sample for the focus group interviews consisted of 16 Grade 8 EFAL learners (eight girls and eight boys) from one secondary school in the Capricorn North District, Koloti Circuit.
Results: Learners experience challenges with pronunciation and limited vocabulary during reading comprehension. The results further indicate that learners experience challenges due to teachers’ inability to teach reading comprehension, low parental literacy, and poverty. The data analysis reported that the lack of a school library also contributed to reading comprehension challenges.
Conclusion: The findings revealed that educators contributed towards learners’ reading comprehension challenges.
Contribution: This calls for in-service training for educators on how to teach learners with reading comprehension challenges. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b778e97b217a45118aec7170f3aa313d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2079-8245 2308-1422 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reading & Writing |
| spelling | doaj-art-b778e97b217a45118aec7170f3aa313d2025-08-20T03:07:34ZengAOSISReading & Writing2079-82452308-14222025-05-01161e1e1010.4102/rw.v16i1.556210Exploring Grade 8 English First Additional Language learners’ reading comprehension challengesAgnitius Molwantoa0Florence Olifant1Madoda Cekiso2Department of Applied Languages, Faculty of Humanities, Tshwane University of Technology, PretoriaDepartment of Applied Languages, Faculty of Humanities, Tshwane University of Technology, PretoriaDepartment of Applied Languages, Faculty of Humanities, Tshwane University of Technology, PretoriaBackground: Reading is valued as a critical aspect of literacy, but there is a concern about the regression in reading comprehension that remains a global issue. Consequently, most countries around the world are worried about learners’ poor reading skills. Objectives: The study investigated the reading comprehension challenges of Grade 8 English First Additional Language (EFAL) learners. Method: This qualitative study used a case study design and thematic data analysis to process and analyse the data. The purposively selected sample for the focus group interviews consisted of 16 Grade 8 EFAL learners (eight girls and eight boys) from one secondary school in the Capricorn North District, Koloti Circuit. Results: Learners experience challenges with pronunciation and limited vocabulary during reading comprehension. The results further indicate that learners experience challenges due to teachers’ inability to teach reading comprehension, low parental literacy, and poverty. The data analysis reported that the lack of a school library also contributed to reading comprehension challenges. Conclusion: The findings revealed that educators contributed towards learners’ reading comprehension challenges. Contribution: This calls for in-service training for educators on how to teach learners with reading comprehension challenges.https://rw.org.za/index.php/rw/article/view/556reading comprehensionlearnersefalreading comprehension challengesreading |
| spellingShingle | Agnitius Molwantoa Florence Olifant Madoda Cekiso Exploring Grade 8 English First Additional Language learners’ reading comprehension challenges Reading & Writing reading comprehension learners efal reading comprehension challenges reading |
| title | Exploring Grade 8 English First Additional Language learners’ reading comprehension challenges |
| title_full | Exploring Grade 8 English First Additional Language learners’ reading comprehension challenges |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Grade 8 English First Additional Language learners’ reading comprehension challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Grade 8 English First Additional Language learners’ reading comprehension challenges |
| title_short | Exploring Grade 8 English First Additional Language learners’ reading comprehension challenges |
| title_sort | exploring grade 8 english first additional language learners reading comprehension challenges |
| topic | reading comprehension learners efal reading comprehension challenges reading |
| url | https://rw.org.za/index.php/rw/article/view/556 |
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