Relationship Between Reading Speed and Comprehension Among EFL Learners

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between reading speed and comprehension among EFL learners. The study specifically investigated the reading speed of EFL learners, comprehension level of EFL learners, gender influence on EFL leaners reading speed, gender influence on EFL leaner comprehension level and relationship between reading speed and comprehension level of EFL learners. The study was a correlation type using purposive and random sampling techniques to draw a sample of 50 EFL learners out of which 30 adequately responded. The main research instrument was drafted from the pool of comprehension passages commonly used among the EFL learners in KSA. Two research questions were answered in the study using frequency counts and percentages. Three research hypotheses were formulated and tested. Hypotheses one and two were tested using t-test while hypothesis three was tested using Pearson Product Monument Coeficient (PPMC) all hypotheses were tested at 0.05 significant level, the statistical tool used for analysis is Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The findings of the study indicated that the reading speed of the Saudi EFL learners is average while the comprehension level of the EFL learners is equally on the average. Similarly, the result indicated no significant difference in the male and female EFL learners’ reading speed and comprehension level and the relationship between reading speed and comprehension of EFL learners is negative, weak and not significant. It was recommended among others that government and all stakeholders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should put in place policies for an improved reading speed and comprehension level of EFL leaners and necessary facilities should be made available for EFL learners to improve their reading speed.