USING LITERARY TEXTS AS SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS TO IMPROVE READING SKILLS FOR THE FIRST-YEAR ENGLISH MAJORS AT MILITARY SCIENCE ACADEMY

Abstract

The study aims at measuring the hypothesis that the use of literary texts as extra materials in reading lessons can enhance students’ reading ability and increase their English proficiency on the whole. The method used in the study is mainly quantitative research method. In order to seek answers to the hypothesis question, two sets of questionnaire were designed and delivered to 20 teachers and 105 first-year students at Military Science Academy (MSA). The findings of the study have pointed out some areas of ineffectiveness of the textbook in use (Cause and Effect). To better the situation, what we need is to adapt the textbook combining with the use of literary texts as extra materials. From the results of the study, the authors have presented some suggestions on selecting appropriate literary texts, assigning and assessing students’ performance through a model of extensive reading