A Study On The Effectiveness Of English Reading Strategies Training For Non-English Majors In A Vocational College

This study combined survey and experiment to investigate the effectiveness of English reading strategies training among vocational non-English majors, with a special focus on English reading strategies use, and the relative impact of systematic and non-systematic reading strategies training on students’ reading skills. The survey of reading strategies showed that the use of reading strategies among non-English majors in this college was low and that the least used strategies were strategies of association, summarizing, appreciation and being critical, and evaluation.According to the different levels in the use of reading strategies and the results of English reading test, two experimental classes and one control class were selected with 145 students to participate in the 15-week English reading strategies training. One experimental class received systematic reading strategy training, and the other received non-systematic training. The control class received normal instruction. After the training, the same reading test and reading strategies survey were re-administered to the participants.The data was analyzed by SPSS. The results found that systematic English reading strategy training significantly improved students’ reading comprehension whereas non-systematic reading training has no significant effect on English reading proficiency, suggesting that systematic English reading strategies training was feasible among vocational non-English majors. The study provided some empirical evidence for non-English majors’ English reading strategies training as well as implications for college English reading instruction.