Are first language reading strategies applicable to second language EAP Reading?

Background and Objectives

EAP reading comprehension is the major component of any academic language course. This descriptive-correlational study provided a brief review of L1 and EAP reading strategies, the degree of overlap between common L1 and EAP reading strategies, and the applicability of L1 reading strategies to EAP reading.

Materials and Methods

Two researcher-made questionnaires and the one-to-one interview technique were used to collect the required data on L1 reading strategies transfer to EAP reading from 60 dental students. Data were analyzed with SPSS19 using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, and correlational coefficients.

Results

The findings showed that the total correlation between L1 and EAP reading strategies, calculated via Pearson Correlation Coefficient, was 0.469 (P=0.01) which was statistically significant. The same was true for EAP-L1 reading strategies correlation meaning that students’ L1 strategy use is relatively related to EAP strategy use and vice versa, yet EAP strategy use requires explicit strategy training.

Conclusion

University students may benefit from transfer of their mother tongue reading comprehension strategies to understand EAP texts more readily and deeply.