The effect of a program based on thinking maps on developing EFL learners' reading comprehension skills and their attitudes towards reading

Abstract EN

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a program based on Thinking Maps on developing English language reading comprehension skills for first year college level students in the Integrated Technical Education Cluster at Al Ameeria (ITEC) and their attitude towards reading in general.

The participants of the study consisted of 50 students who were equally divided into two groups; one experimental group and one control group.

The two groups pre posttest quasi- experimental design was used.

The instruments of the study included a checklist of reading comprehension skills, a pre post reading comprehension test and a scale to measure students' attitude towards reading.

The reading comprehension test and the reading attitude scale were administered to both groups before and after the period of instruction, respectively.

The findings of the study revealed that the Thinking Maps based program significantly developed students' English reading comprehension skills and their attitude towards reading when compared to the regular classroom experience.