Explore the relationship between strategy use and ESP reading test performance of two university majors (humanities VS. science)

Abstract

This paper focuses on exploring the relationship between strategy use and ESP reading test performance of two university majors (humanities VS. science). To fulfill the purpose of the study, 240 intermediate students were selected out of a population pool of 360 ESP students studying in three universities in Iran, Esfahan based on their performance on Oxford Placement Test. After 5 sessions of teaching and practicing 8 reading comprehension strategies for instance, summarizing, linking with prior knowledge or experience, a multiple choice reading comprehension test plus a cognitive and metacognitive questionnaire were given to experimental groups. Pearson product moment correlations and t-test was used. The results showed the positive effect of using strategy on ESP reading comprehension test performance. Regarding major, science groups outperformed humanities. The findings have significant implications for ESP learners, teachers and material developers. © 2014 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland.