An Investigation of Reading Comprehension Difficulties amongst EFL Students at Qassim University

Abstract

This study aims to measure the perceptions of Saudi EFL students (N= 30) at a university on the impact of teachers' competence to teach linguistic laws to manage students' reading comprehension problems. In addition, the study measures the importance of some psychological and procedural techniques which have a role in developing students' reading comprehension. This descriptive-analytical research was conducted at Qassim University using a questionnaire. Results showed that students moderately believed that owning limited knowledge of linguistic laws leads to weakness in reading comprehension (M=3). Results also indicate that teachers' lack of experience leads to poverty of student comprehension (M=2.9). Finally, students moderately agree to the efficacy of input of psychological and procedural techniques in developing their reading comprehension (M=3.2). This study is significant because it proposes practical pedagogical approaches for enhancing students’ reading proficiency.