Academic reading challenges and strategies used by Chinese undergraduate students in a selected private university in Malaysia

Abstract

Academic reading is an essential skill required of higher education for students and academic researchers. However, Chinese students lack reading skills and do not receive adequate reading instruction in academic reading. This study attempted to identify the academic reading challenges among Chinese students who study at UCSI University and to investigate the appropriate reading strategies employed by them. While being informed by the Sociocultural Theory of Learning (Vygotsky, 1978), the study used a mixed-methods research design which collected quantitative data from questionnaires and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews. Findings showed that the Chinese students lacked mastery of academic vocabulary and reading skills, typically in finding information. Another finding also showed that the Chinese undergraduate students used both cognitive strategies and metacognitive strategies in academic reading. The findings could help Chinese undergraduate students overcome their reading difficulties and propose suggestions to teachers on how to teach reading more effectively.