French Science Students Reading in a Foreign Language: Constraint or Pleasure?

Nicole Décuré

Abstract


French science students do not read much in English. Does this reflect their reading habits in their native language? A study in the form of online questionnaires was conducted at Toulouse university which compared their reading habits in French and in English. A further study examined the way one particular group of students conducted their prescribed reading task in English. Finally, a questionnaire was used to assess their reading in English after university. The results show that these students do a fair amount of reading in French and therefore can and should be encouraged to read in English. Extensive reading programmes proved useful at the incidental learning, fluency and enjoyment levels.

Keywords


Extensive Reading, Foreign Language, Motivation, Incidental Learning, French Students, Short Stories

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.9n.4p.1

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