Chapter I Introduction

1.1. Background of the study

English is the best language which has different two forms for each country such as
English as a second language (ESL) and English as a foreign language (EFL). However, they are
different from each other but ESL and EFL still have the same purpose for people are on the
earth. English as the second language plays crucial role for people to completely with their
working, studying, speaking especially with their living. It can help people to improve
themselves and the society where they live in. Even though English is just a foreign language in
one country. It also used to complete for studying, working and communication. English play
essential role for developing in the society. English is one of the lessons being taught to learners
from young children level to adult learner level. In this global there are many languages. Among
of them only English is an internal language that essential to a person challenge. With good
English skills, good challenges, which is better for the society too.

Nowadays, people all over the world who live in different countries want their countries to
become the developed country and have a good relationship with the other countries. On the
other hand, people also need to communicate with each other. Good communication need good
language and English is an international language that plays significant role in education which
can help us to communicate with foreigners. More than this, English language is used to
communicate in different sectors like tourism, economic and other working as well. English is
the best choice for people all around the world for using in business, science, technology, social
media and other purposes. Cambodia is developing country which uses English as the foreign
language. Especially, this language plays an important role in education and for all educators in
order to contribute to improve education system and quality of human resources in Cambodia.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MOEYS) has started integration English language in
education program from primary school to high school to promote student's language ability to
complete with high challenging, studying, and working in the future. In English language there
are four main skills speaking, listening, reading and writing. All of these main skills will help
learners to improve ability more and more with their studying especially, students at universities.
They need to know English even though their major is not English. English has included into the
curriculum at university. On the other ways, English is not just a widely spoken language
worldwide, but also a key that unlocks numerous opportunities for education, careers, and
communication while various methods of leaning English are available across the internet, one
popular and widely applied approach is reading. Many students learn how to read, write, listen
and speak in English. All of these skills are necessary to know more words. The reading is the
popular topic for the teachers who teach English as the foreign language and it is also essential
tool for learning English language.

1.2 Problems of the Study

The challenges faced by EFL learners in developing reading skills are multifaceted and
require careful consideration. EFL learners often struggle with reading comprehension due to a
lack of familiarity with academic language and genre-specific conventions. Texts in the MIS
program frequently contain technical jargon, complex sentence structures, and abstract concepts
that can hinder understanding. The cognitive load required to decipher these elements can
overwhelm learners, leading to frustration and disengagement. Research indicates that
comprehension difficulties are common among EFL students, as they may not possess the
necessary background knowledge or contextual understanding to make sense of the material
(Grabe & Stoller, 2011). We found some problems that students always encounter when learning
reading skills.

 The comprehension problems, a lack of fluency, limited vocabulary, and motivation

issue.
 The students think learning to read is boring.
 The students don't like to read English.
 Don’t have enough time to read.
 Spelling errors and pronunciation problem.
 Inability to use words correctly.
 They cannot understand words clearly when teachers teach them in different ways from
one teacher to others.

Furthermore, they have problems on their spelling errors and pronunciation because students
just overlap the words; not breaking the word into parts is enough for covering the spellings
 and they find it difficult to pronounce the word in the right way. Mostly, they are unaware of
certain words’ spellings when they listen as a new word. So that they are the lack of ability to
use reading fluency since Students have to learn certain new words, at the same time they
require a great time for increasing the knowledge of the words. Therefore, it is very hard for
students to express their intended meanings in the English language. Students will not be able
to understand words clearly if the teacher use wrong method or the method does not in the
right level. Last, the teacher needs to prepare good strategies and a suitable approach in order
to gain the target of language teaching to the students.

1.3 Rationale

The rationale for this study is grounded in the recognition that effective reading
instruction is vital for EFL learners' academic success. Observing that learning English requires a
lot of reading because reading is a first start in learning English, no matter what the skill, reading
plays an important role in contributing to those skills. There are many problems that make it
difficult to continue learning reading well. Researchers have observed that reading learners face
problems such as the comprehension problems, a lack of fluency, limited vocabulary, and
motivation issue, the students think learning to read is boring, the students don't like to read
English, don’t have enough time to read, spelling errors and pronunciation problem, inability to
use words correctly. However, researchers want to find those problems and solve problems to
help all reading learners easily learn to read and build capacity to move forward. This topic is the
most important topic which researchers want to conduct to find challenges that students face in
learning reading at MAHARISHI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL. After that researcher want to
find the effective teaching techniques that EFL teachers always used to teach and their
perspective of their teaching.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The primary objective of this study is to identify effective techniques for teaching reading
skills to EFL learners at MIS. Specifically, the study aims to:

- To find out the challenges that EFL students face when they are learning to read.
- To find out the possible solutions to help learners to overcome the challenges in their
reading learning.
 - To explore effective teaching techniques that promote reading skills.

1.5 Research Questions

1. What are the challenges that learners face in their reading learning?

2. From the perspective of teacher, what are the possible solutions to help learners to
overcome the challenges in their reading learning?

3. What are the effective techniques to enhance reading skills for EFL learners?

6. Significance of the Study

The significance of this study lies in its potential contributions to both theoretical and
practical aspects of language education. By identifying effective reading techniques for EFL
learners, the findings can inform curriculum development and instructional practices within the
MIS program. Additionally, the research will benefit educators, students, and academic
institutions by enhancing understanding of the specific needs of EFL learners and promoting
effective reading instruction.

7. Scope and Limitation

The scope of this study is limited to EFL learners enrolled in the MIS program at a
specific educational institution. While the research will provide insights applicable to similar
contexts, the findings may not be generalizable to all EFL learners. Limitations include the
potential biases in self-reported data regarding reading proficiency and the varying degrees of
exposure to English across participants.

8. Abbreviation in this text

ESL : English as a second language

EFL : English as a foreign language

MOEYS : Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport

MIS : Maharishi International School

9. Key term

Education : is the systematic process of facilitating learning, acquiring knowledge, skills,

values, and attitudes. It can occur in formal settings, such as schools and
universities, or informally, through life experiences and social interactions.

Language : is a structured system of communication that involves the use of sounds,

symbols, or gestures to convey meaning.

Vocabulary : refers to the collection of words and phrases that a person knows and uses. It
plays a crucial role in effective communication and comprehension,
influencing reading and writing skills.

Economic : Economics is the study of how societies allocate scarce resources to satisfy
unlimited wants. It encompasses various concepts, including supply and
demand, market dynamics, and the behavior of consumers and firms.

Business : involves the activities of producing, buying, selling, and managing goods and
services. It includes various sectors such as finance, marketing, operations, and
human resources, focusing on profitability and sustainability.

Technology : refers to the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes,

especially in industry. It includes tools, machines, and systems that improve
efficiency and productivity across various fields.

Social media : consists of platforms and applications that enable users to create, share, and
exchange content and ideas in virtual communities. It plays a significant role in
communication, marketing, and social interaction in the modern world.