Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 13. Number2.  June 2022                                               Pp.37- 49
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol13no2.3

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 The Effects of Reading Habits on Test Performance by Foundation-level Omani Students 

Sarath W. Samaranayake
Department of International Language Teaching
Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Corresponding Author: Samaranayake_s@su.ac.th

Suneeta Kositchaivat
Department of International Language Teaching
Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Vachira Jantarach
Department of International Language Teaching
Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

 

Received: 3/30/2022                     Accepted:5/27/2022                         Published: 6/24/2022

 

 Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of reading habits among college-level foundation Omani students and their impact on the participants’ performance in tests. The study used a qualitative and quantitative research method in which 70 participants from the foundation level were included. A survey questionnaire was used to collect qualitative data, while two college-based reading tests were used to collect quantitative data from the college-based tests. The main research question this study attempted to answer was whether foundation-level students have positive reading habits and attitudes towards books. At the end of the study, the data were analyzed quantitatively, using descriptive and inferential statistics to ascertain whether there was a correlation between positive reading habits in English and the participants’ performance in an examination setting. The results indicated that positive reading habits correlated positively with the participants’ test scores on two consecutive tests. Given the positive effects that emerged from the current study, the researchers would like to recommend that English reading teachers guide and encourage their learners to engage in reading as much as possible, as such habits will help them improve all aspects of literacy and succeed in achieving their educational and life goals with ease.
Keywords: Academic achievement, literacy development, reading habits, tertiary Omani learners, test performance,

Cite as: Samaranayake, S.W., Suneeta, K., & Vachira, J. (2022). The Effects of Reading Habits on Test Performance by Foundation-level Omani Students. Arab World English Journal, 13 (2) 37- 49.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol13no2.3

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Received: 3/30/2022
Accepted: 5/27/2022
Published: 6/24/2022
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6352-726X
https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol13no2.3  

Sarath Withanarachchi Samaranayake is an English lecturer at the Department of International Language Teaching, Silpakorn University, Thailand. He received his doctoral degree in General Linguistics from the University of South Africa. He has published several research articles in peer-reviewed international journals. His interests include teaching and researching in the domains of ESL and EFL.  ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6352-726X

Suneeta Kositchaivat (Ph.D.) is an assistant professor at the Department of International Language Teaching, Silpakorn University, Thailand. Her primary interests include communicative language teaching, English camp activities, and English project work. ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8300-727X 

Asst. Prof. Vachira Jantarach (Ph.D.) is an English lecturer at the Department of International Language Teaching, Silpakorn University, Thailand. His primary interests include English teaching methods, language acquisition, and research. ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2263-6857