Investigating into Problems of Early Reading in English that Face Sudanese Basic Level Pupils

Abstract

Early reading problems in English language spread widely among the pupils at Sudanese Basic Level Schools particularly in the First Circle (Grades1, 2 and 3). Most of the pupils at this stage find problems in reading English texts. Therefore, this study aims to investigate some of early problems in English reading facing by the First Circle's pupils. Also, it investigates the causes behind these problems in this important stage of education. To investigate that, four questions are formulated in addition to that; four hypotheses are postulated from these questions. The data for the present study are obtained and collected by three tools. The first tool is two tests for the 3rd grade pupils. The second tool is a questionnaire for English supervisors and teachers of the First Circle. The third tool for collecting data of the study is the classroom observation checklist. The study population is the 3rd grade pupils at British Educational Schools and Abdelmarouf Ali Educational Schools in Karary locality in Omdurman. A total number of 194 pupils from grade 3 in these two schools participate in this study. Moreover, 45 English supervisors and teachers from the First Circle participate in this study. Different statistical methods are used to analyze the data of the study. They are: Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) and Alpha Cronbach' as well as Pearson Coefficient Factor. The most important findings are: The First Circle (Grades 1, 2 and 3) is regarded the best stage for teaching English language as a foreign language, majority of the pupils in the 3rd grade face problems in reading English texts, using Arabic language very much during English lessons hinders the development of English reading skills and most of the First Circle's English teachers in Karary locality are unqualified. Based on the findings of the study many recommendations are given to English supervisors and teachers of the First Circle (Grades 1, 2 and 3) as well as English syllabus designers and families of the pupils.