Reading Classes: A Survey

A questionnaire was developed to investigate various aspects of students in college English reading classes. The foci were: students ’ perceived English reading abilities; perceived overall English abilities; motivation toward English reading; reading anxiety; English learning experiences; Japanese reading experiences; and needs and wants in English reading. The questionnaire was administered to approximately 90 non-English majors in two reading classes at a pharmaceutical university in Tokyo. The results showed that: students perceived their overall English ability, and English reading ability, as low; they were neither well motivated, nor highly anxious, about reading English; and they viewed their English learning experiences rather negatively. Their motivation, perceived English ability, and reading anxiety were modestly correlated with their English learning experiences. These results call for English teachers to rethink their ways of teaching English