An Investigation of Students’ Difficulties in Reading Literary Texts

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the difficulties encountered by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learner in reading literary texts at the department of English, Mohamed Seddik Benyahia University, Jijel. It, also, aimed at suggesting some solutions to facilitate the process of reading literary texts. The present research work is built upon two hypotheses. First, it is hypothesised that understanding literary texts exhibits a challenge for EFL learners. Second, finding effective strategies would help learners overcome these difficulties and become better readers of English literature. To this end, the data were collected by means of two research instruments, namely a questionnaire and an interview. Out of a population of 257 students, the questionnaire was handed to 60 third year English students at Mohammed Seddik Benyahia University, Jijel; whereas, the interview was conducted with two teachers of literature at the same department. The results obtained from this study show that, indeed, EFL learners face difficulties in reading literary texts such as difficult vocabulary and complex grammatical structures. On the basis of these results, pedagogical recommendations were suggested.