Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess English as foreign language (EFL) students’ perception and
their reading habit in the sampled secondary schools of Kadida Gamela Woreda. The subjects of the
study were grade 10 EFL students in the stated district. Descriptive-co relational research design was
employed and accordingly mixed approach was used to analyze the data. In order to pick the
teachers, Librarians and school principals, purposive sampling technique was deployed and the
students were selected by using stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaire, interview and
observation were used as data gathering instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed through
descriptive and inferential statistics whereas the qualitative data were analyzed using words. The
findings indicated that grade 10 EFL students in the sampled secondary school read by giving more
emphasis for academic reading materials and with less weight on nonacademic reading materials.
The regularity of students’ reading was limited because students read only when they had
assignments and exams. The result of the study pointed that there was strong positive relation
between EFL students’ perception and their reading habit. Moreover the finding indicted teachers,
family, environment, students and school administrative related factors affected students’ reading
habit. Therefore, it was concluded that students’ reading perception was confined to academic
reading and their reading perceptions of the students was distorted due to the above mentioned
factors that contributed to limited reading habit development of students. Recommendations
forwarded were: stakeholders like teachers, parents, librarians, school directors should work to
develop students’ reading. Students should upgrade their reading habit instead of seldomely reading
for examination and to do assignments.
