Assessment of Reading Comprehension Skills. A Case Study SE3 EFL Classes in Tizi-Ouzou.

Abstract

This study is mainly concerned with the investigation of the assessment of reading comprehension with the third year learners in secondary schools in Ain El Hammam in Tizi- Ouzou. First, it tried to analyse the techniques and the strategies used in the class, in terms and baccalaureate exams to enhance the reading comprehension competencies in the learners. Second, it attempted to identify the main reasons of reading comprehension difficulties for the learners. Finally, it tried to check whether the reading comprehension activities provided by the New Prospect textbook effectively prepare the learners to the final exam in reading comprehension. The study was conducted based on the mixed method approach. Thus, a questionnaire was administered to EFL secondary school teachers in Ain El Hammam. In addition to two others, New Prospect textbook and a sample of a BAC exam analysis. Sphinx software was used for statistical data analysis while qualitative content analysis was used for the explanation and interpretation of the open ended questions of the questionnaire. The results of the research showed that the learners’ reading comprehension skills are assessed using multiple techniques, such as: a. asking comprehension question, b. true or false statements, c. asking a question about the type of the text, d. asking learners to find or give synonyms and opposites, e. asking learners to put ideas according to their occurrence in the text, f. asking the learners to summarise the general idea of the text, g. giving multiple choice questions to select the appropriate one, h. asking learners to determine the author’s purpose and i. asking pupils to find word references in the text . Moreover, the factors that cause reading comprehension difficulties are linguistic weakness and lack of reading. And also the findings showed that the New Prospect reading comprehension activities effectively prepare the learners to the final exam in reading comprehension.