The Effectiveness of Extensive Reading Programme to Enhance Reading among Primary School Students in Rural Sarawak

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the L2 learners reading ability with low language proficiency in rural parts of Sarawak, Malaysia.  The study was conducted by introducing a few extensive reading program to enable learners to gradually start reading a text with interest and not pressured or stressed to read due to exam. The researcher embarked on this research to find out what is lacking in the learners because they are not interested in reading an English text. The learners are only interested in reading materials that are related to their examination.  The research was carried out on Year 3 students in a rural area in Kuching, Sarawak. The learners were not exposed to materials pertaining to English unless they are in school. The respondents were familiar with the Bahasa Melayu and other local dialects or their first language only. The lack of interest was due to the influence of first language and the environment which is only filled with one race that are fluent in the Malay language. A total of 32 students were chosen to take part in this study. Students’ feedback on the effectives of Extensive Reading programme were obtained via questionnaire and interview with teachers and school principals. The findings of the study revealed that the unanimous agreement among respondents on the significance of English reading and the positive impact of the program aligns harmoniously with the existing literature. These findings underscore the value of such initiatives in cultivating a genuine interest in reading, particularly in contexts where access to educational resources may be limited. The findings of this research will be able to bring a paradigm shift in the reading habit among young learners in rural area in Sarawak.