Leisure reading preferences of bilingual female students in Singapore

Abstract

Background. Leisure reading is important for personal growth, enjoyment and relaxation. Objective. The study investigates the influence of bilingualism on the leisure reading habits and preferences of female teenage students in Singapore. Method. An online questionnaire was used to collect data and 464 students from two secondary schools that participated in this study. Results. It was found that irrespective of ethnic group, 93% of the students speak English at home, and also read leisure books in this language. For both English and mother tongue languages, the most favourite genres are fantasy, adventure, and romance, whereas the least preferred genres are sports, arts and craft, and biography. Students read English language books basically for enjoyment and relaxation, and mother tongue language books for study-related purposes. Contributions. The limited interest in mother tongue languages could be a matter of concern for education planners, curriculum designers, and authors of children's literature. Appropriate measures are needed to encourage bilingual students to also read in their mother tongue language.