Effects of extensive reading on English reading comprehension of Thai vocational students

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) investigate the effects of extensive reading on English reading comprehension of Thai vocational students, 2) explore the opinions of Thai vocational students toward extensive reading. Fifty-one students majoring in Computer, Information Technology, and General Management from a public college in Thailand participated in this study for 12 weeks. The instruments used to collect data were the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) reading test, and extensive reading motivation questionnaire. The TOEIC reading test was used to investigate students’ reading while the extensive reading motivation questionnaire was used to explore their motivation toward Extensive Reading. Quantitative data were collected through the TOEIC reading test and extensive reading motivation questionnaire. Qualitative data were derived from the open-ended questions as part of the extensive reading motivation questionnaire.

The results revealed that 1) students’ English reading comprehension had increased significantly, 2) the students reported positive motivation for the implementation of Extensive Reading activities and materials. Students reported their extrinsic academic compliance at the highest and extrinsic excel to read at the lowest. The study recommended that extensive reading tended to be an effective reading approach to improve English reading comprehension, and that it should be integrated into teaching reading for Thai vocational students. ​