Unveiling critical reading strategies and challenges: a mixed-methods study among English major students in a Vietnamese higher education institution

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the critical reading (CR) strategies utilized by English major students at a university in Vietnam, identifying both frequently employed and underutilized tactics. The study encompassed a quantitative survey of 147 students who had successfully finished a CR course in their curriculum, supplemented by qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews with 12 individuals. The findings suggest that students have a significant inclination to depend on lower-level cognitive abilities, rather than actively participating in higher-level critical thinking. The study reveals several obstacles that impede the development of effective critical reading skills. These include deficiencies in language proficiency, a limited comprehension of critical reading strategies, insufficient instructional assistance, and a dearth of diverse and captivating critical reading tasks. This study offers a thorough examination of the critical reading techniques and challenges encountered by students majoring in English, illuminating potential areas for enhancing pedagogical practices in reading instruction.

Keywords:

• Critical reading
• critical reading strategies
• frequency
• perception
• difficulties
• English-majored students

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Stephen Darwin, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile

SUBJECTS:

• Adult Education
• Lifelong Learning
• Study Skills

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ha Van Le

Ha Van Le completed her PhD program in Social Science and Humanities at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia. She used to be a graduate research assistant at the Department of Management and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. Currently, she is a researcher and a lecturer at the Foreign Languages Department of FPT University, Vietnam. Her research interests are critical thinking skills, critical reading skills, constructivist approach in teaching and learning English for EFL and ESL students. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6704-7194

Thi Ai Duyen Nguyen

Thi Ai Duyen Nguyen, Dinh Hieu Ngan Le, Phuong Uyen Nguyen, Thi Thien An Nguyen are final year students at FPT University, Ho Chi Minh Campus. Their major is English Language.

Dinh Hieu Ngan Le

Thi Ai Duyen Nguyen, Dinh Hieu Ngan Le, Phuong Uyen Nguyen, Thi Thien An Nguyen are final year students at FPT University, Ho Chi Minh Campus. Their major is English Language.

Phuong Uyen Nguyen

Thi Ai Duyen Nguyen, Dinh Hieu Ngan Le, Phuong Uyen Nguyen, Thi Thien An Nguyen are final year students at FPT University, Ho Chi Minh Campus. Their major is English Language.

Thi Thien An Nguyen

Thi Ai Duyen Nguyen, Dinh Hieu Ngan Le, Phuong Uyen Nguyen, Thi Thien An Nguyen are final year students at FPT University, Ho Chi Minh Campus. Their major is English Language.