Reading Proficiency and Comprehension Among English Language Students in Selected Department in Adamawa State Polytechnic Yola, Nigeria
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READING PROFICIENCY AND COMPREHENSION AMONG ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDENTS IN SELECTED DEPARTMENT IN ADAMAWA STATE POLYTECHNIC YOLA, NIGERIA BY BABA JIMETA USMAN 1163-07086-08684 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE COLLEGE OF HIGHER DEGREES AND RESEARCH IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS ENGLISH LANGUAGE OF KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, UGANDA. MARCH, 2019 1 APPROVAL This thesis was supervised and approved by me as a supervisor for the award of a Master of Arts English Language. ……………………………………… Dr. Simon Peter Ongodia ………………………………………… Date i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express my profound gratitude and happiness to Allah (SWA) for giving me the strength and wisdom to withstand the challenges of studying away from my sweet home. Despite all the challenges, I finally made it. I wish to thank my entire family members for their courage in confronting the challenges of life during my leave of study. I wish to thank my supervisor, Dr. Ongodia Peter Simon, for his tireless effort in ensuring that this work has become successful. Also not forgetting the tremendous effort imputed by my able lecturer, Dr. John Kalema, in this work. My appreciation goes to Dr Siraj, Prof. Ijeoma Anumaka, Dr. Ibrahim Wunti, Dr. Kayindu, Dr. James Wasaja, Dr. Nkonge Kiniyikibi, Dr. Susan Akinkurolere, Dr. Tindi, Dr. Muhammad Kibuuka, Prof. Salami and all other scholars not mentioned. Not forgetting my friends and colleagues whom we share everything together. I love you all. Lastly, I would like to thank the management of Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola for nominating and forwarding my request for Study leave to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).In which without that, i would not have made it to Kampala International University, Uganda to pursue my Master’s program. Thank you all. ii DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis is my original work and the topic has never been submitted to any university or institution of higher learning for an academic award. …………………….. Baba Jimeta Usman ……………………… Date iii DEDICATION I dedicated this work to Almighty Allah for giving me the opportunity to proceed with my academic activities up to this stage of learning. I believe many are willing to attain but could not make it because of one reason or the other. ALHAMDULILLAH ALA KULLI –HAL iv TABLE OF CONTENTS APPROVAL .................................................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................. ii DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iv List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE ..............................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................1 1.2. Background of the Study ..........................................................................................................1 1.2.1. Historical Perspectives ...........................................................................................................3 1.2.2. Theoretical Perspective ..........................................................................................................4 1.2.3 .Conceptual perspective ..........................................................................................................5 1.2.4. Contextual perspectives .........................................................................................................5 1.3. Statement of the Problem ..........................................................................................................6 1.4. Purpose ......................................................................................................................................8 1.5. Objectives .................................................................................................................................8 1.6. Research Questions ...................................................................................................................8 1.7. Scope of the Study ..................................................................................................................9 1.7.1 Geographical Scope ................................................................................................................9 1.7.2 Content Scope .......................................................................................................................9 1.7.3 Time scope ..............................................................................................................................9 1.8. Significance of the Study ..........................................................................................................9 CHAPTER TWO ...........................................................................................................................11 LITERATURE REVIEW ..............................................................................................................11 2.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................11 2.2. Theoretical Review .................................................................................................................11 2.3. Conceptual Frame Work .........................................................................................................14 2.4. Literature Review....................................................................................................................14 v 2.4.1. Reading Proficiency .............................................................................................................14 2.4.2. Reading Rate ........................................................................................................................16 2.4.3. Reading strategies ................................................................................................................17 2.4.4. Comprehension ....................................................................................................................20 2.4.5. Mother Tongue Interference ................................................................................................23 2.4.6 Students' Background Knowledge ........................................................................................24 2.4.7. Level of Proficiency among the Experimental Group .........................................................26 2.4.6. Investigating the Effects of Reading Proficiency on Students .............................................27 2.4.7. Reading- Proficiency strategies impact on Comprehension of students ..............................29 2.5. An Intervention Approach ......................................................................................................31 2.6. Summary of the Gap ...............................................................................................................32 CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................................34 METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................34 3.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................34 3.2. Research Design......................................................................................................................34 3.3. Target population ....................................................................................................................35 3.4. Sampling Techniques ..............................................................................................................35 3.5. Sample Size .............................................................................................................................35 3.6. Data collection ........................................................................................................................36 3.7. Research Instrument................................................................................................................36 3.8. Data analysis ...........................................................................................................................36 3.9. Validity of the study................................................................................................................37 3.10. Reliability of the instruments ................................................................................................37 3.11. Ethical consideration .............................................................................................................37 CHAPTER FOUR ..........................................................................................................................38