Reading Anxiety and Comprehension of Grade 8 Filipino Learners

Wardah D. Guimba, Jerryk C. Alico

Abstract


Abstract. The investigations on the issue of English language reading anxiety have already been conducted in the past two decades. It has now becoming an interest that reading anxiety in English language really does exist. With the use of the English as a Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Inventory (Zoghi, 2012), this descriptive-correlation research attempts to find out the level of reading anxiety and the main causes of its existence among Grade 8 students in Mindanao State University-Integrated Laboratory School, Marawi City. Their reading comprehension performance is also correlated to their reading anxiety level. Results showed that a great majority failed in the test and high level of reading anxiety exists among majority of them. Causes of their reading anxiety are based on three categories: (i) top-down reading, (ii) bottom-up reading, and (iii) classroom reading. Moreover, it was found out that there is a significant negative relationship between students’ reading anxiety level and reading comprehension performance. With this, teachers are challenged to solve this reading problem through effective teaching strategies and interventions. It is further suggested that studies should be conducted to explore further this hindrance in English language learning.

 

Keywords: English Language Learning; Classroom Reading; Reading Anxiety; Reading Comprehension.


Keywords


English Language,Dr. Wardah D. Guimba Assistant Professor, College of Education Mindanao State University, Marawi City mataidtweety@gmail.com Jerryk C. Alico Instructor, Pre-University Center Mindanao State University, Marawi City alico_jerryk@yahoo.com

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