Towards Standardised EFL
Reading Instruction and Research: Valuing Both Skills and Language Proficiency
Sugirin
Since
the publication of Alderson and Urquhart’s (1984)
Reading in a Foreign Language, there ha not been any author challenging Alderson’s
stance that reading in a foreign language is both a reading problem (a problem
related to reading skills) and a language problem (a problem related to
language proficiency). However, the ubiquity of using a reading class as a
session of mere language exercises can still be observed. While this practice may
assist the learners in developing their language proficiency, it hinders the
development of their independent reading ability – the ultimate goal of reading
instruction. This paper will delineate a number of prominent problems in regard
to the practice of reading instruction at a university level, focusing on the
classroom practice, the students’ expectations, and the assessment process. This
paper will also provide suggestions on classroom techniques and collaborative
efforts within the framework of a balanced approach such as action research to
ease or eradicate the current problems. It is expected that the combined
approach may lead to standardized practice to develop both language skills and
language proficiency.
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Sugirin. (2003, October).
Towards standardized EFL reading
instruction and research: Valuing both skills and language proficiency. Paper presented at the 51st
TEFLIN International Conference,
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