The Positive Effect of the English Reading Circle Method on Students’ Reading Performance: Tishk University Case Study

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how the reading circle, also known as the literature circle method, affects students’ reading performances and lessons. his study will be an example study in helping students who do not like reading gain a reading habit. In this study, a mixed research method was applied by collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. At the beginning of the study, control and experimental groups were created using the stratified sampling method, and a pre-test was applied by an expert staff to see the students’ reading performances at the beginning of the study. The reading circle method was followed in the experimental group, and the traditional text reading and answering method was followed in the control group. During this five-week study, weekly tests were applied to both groups, and their reading performances were monitored. At the end of the study, post-tests and semi-structured interviews were applied to the students. According to SPSS t-statistics analysis, a significant difference of .001 was observed between the reading performances of the experimental group and the control group. In addition, students’ positive feedback about the reading circle method was recorded from the interview analysis. As a result, this study revealed that the reading circle method made a positive contribution to students’ reading performance. This study will shed light on other studies on reading in Iraq.

Keywords: English reading circle, Iraq, literature Circle, reading performance, Tishk University