Sustained silent reading: Pleasure to treasure

Abstract

Recognizing reading as an indispensable tool for learning, students need to be adept either in oral or silent reading activity. This study explored the students' reading motivations, causes of reading demotivation and preferred leisure time activities. It further verified the effects of the ten-minute sustained silent reading (SSR) for two months to the student' reading scores and their attitude towards reading after SSR sessions. Using the quasi - experimental design along with the descriptive survey method and focus group discussion, the research findings revealed that the experimental group, who underwent a 10- minute SSR twice a week for a period of eight weeks showed significant improvement in their reading test scores. By contrast, the control group, with no SSR time, obtained no significant mean gain difference. Students had placed high regard on the importance of pleasure reading, as evidenced by their positive attitude towards reading after SSR sessions.Factors like intrinsic motivation and choice of leisure time activity contribute to the quality and quantity of SSR engagements. Since SSR is an essential aid in developing and enhancing the students' reading proficiency, it is highly recommended that both school and home take a conscious effort in providing a print-rich environment and that SSR be made part in the developmental reading curriculum among students in the university.