A Study of the EFL Reading Attitude of Preparatory School Students: Tinishu Meti and Jain Preparatory Schools in Gambella Region in Focus.

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate EFL Students' attitude towards reading of Grade lland Grade 12students at Tinishu Meti and Jain preparatory schools at Gambella Region Mejeng Zone and Godere and Mengeshi Wereda. The study obtained quantitative and qualitative data collection method. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to select the sample size for the quantitative survey which takes 30% of the total population 325 in each grade in respective schools to maximize the sample. Accordingly, the sample size was 98 students. On the other hand, the researcher used purposive sampling for Focus Group Discussions conducted in the target schools. The schools and grade level of the study were selected in availability sampling techniques because only two preparatory schools were available in Mejeng Zone. The researcher decided to focus on 11th and 1i h grade students of both schools since these grade level teachers had complaints about their students' low involvement in EFL reading. The quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 16 software program to calculate mean score in order to describe the target students EFL reading attitude. One sample t-test and mean score were used to compare if there were a significant difference in EFL reading attitude between students in the target schools and whether there existed a significant difference between Grade 11 and 12 students in their EFL reading attitude. On the other hand, the qualitative data used in order to get information why the target respondents hold certain kinds of attitude that was analyzed qualitatively using methods of description, narration and interpretation. The finding of this study indicated that most students found negative kind of attitude. With respect to school and grade levels no statistically significant difference was observed between grade 11 and 12 students in the respective schools and also with respect to schools no statically significant difference was observed between Tinishu Meti and Jain preparatory school students.