Investigating the reading difficulties of magister students of physics vis-à-vis their general English knowledge, University of Constantine

Abstract EN

This paper reports on a study which investigates the reading comprehension problems and difficulties of magister students of Physics while reading scientific texts and elicits their reading difficulties in English.

The results were obtained from a students’ questionnaire and a test.

The analysis of the data proved that the students’ difficulties are due to their linguistic handicap mainly in grammar and vocabulary.

Furthermore, it confirms that these students’ have a poor level in General English which compounds their reading comprehension difficulties.

These results lead us to believe that the teaching/ learning situation of English at the Physics Department, at the University of Constantine should be re-considered.

For that, we suggest to implement reading courses to reinforce the students’ General English knowledge and promote their reading comprehension of scientific texts.