Reading Circles Impact On English As A Foreign Language Students’ Motivation

Abstract

This study focused on the impact reading circles method had on university students’ motivation learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This paper explores how reading circles method was used in the EFL lessons. In order to analyze the students’ responses to the activity, 2 questionnaires were designed. In the first questionnaire, the students reflected on the advantages and disadvantages of the lessons where the studied method was used and presented their experience, observations, and concerns. After having discussed the students’ views and responses to reading circles in the questionnaire with open questions, the results of the scaled questions directly related to students’ motivation presented in the second questionnaire were analyzed. The whole-group average value of each item was calculated and the results were shown and described in the paper. According to the results, the students responded positively to the activity. It is significant that they assigned very high values to the items connected with their involvement into the discussion process. Based on the result of data analysis, it is concluded that the use of reading circles has a positive impact on the students’ motivation and their involvement into the discussion process. The students who experience reading circles tend to be deeply involved into the study process. The author found that the lessons organized with the reading circles method resulted in an increase in students’ independence and autonomy, and their increased engagement and social interaction between them.