Applying a Cognitive Learning Approach to Unravel Problems Encountered by Arab Students in Reading and Understanding Texts in English

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate the difficulties facing undergraduate students of the Faculty of Science and Arts-Khulais, King Abdul Aziz University in reading and understanding texts in English language. It also attempts to pinpoint the reasons behind the hurdles and how they can be dealt with successfully through a cognitive mechanism in order to improve their reading comprehension. Due to the immensely lowering reading standards, researchers have considered approaching the problem through a model that is principally designed for lower levels of education. The model, handled differently, can be made to work effectively at university level.  The researchers tested they hypotheses of the study using a sample group of 30 out of 160 respondents have found that there is a close relationship between bad teaching at particularly intermediate school, and no attempts were made to improve the ailing standards at the secondary schools.