Developing Reading Skills in Higher Education: Convincing students that an intervention is needed
Introduction The ability to read well is a key foundation of academic performance in first, second and foreign languages (Anderson, 2012; Don & Osman, 1987; Gaona & Gonzalez, 2010; Grabe, 2009). Despite the vital role they play, students often arrive at university with poorly developed reading skills ( Lenong , 2020; Oliver & Young, 2016) and reading habits considered incompatible with effective study (Abdullah, 2004). However, students may not be aware of their underdeveloped reading ability or may feel that they can succeed anyway. Therefore, before introducing activities designed to help students develop reading skills, it may first be necessary to convince them that such an intervention is needed. The brief series of activities which follow have been used over several years with both native and non-native speakers of English who are beginning their studies at university. The aim of all activities is to highlight the need to think about reading skills and ...