The purposes of this research study are 1) to study the problems of English Reading Skills of Master of Arts students at Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Humanities, and IBSC students, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. 2) to analyze the problems of English Reading Skills of Master of Arts students at Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Humanities, and IBSC students, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. 3) to find the ways to solve the problems of English Reading Skills of Master of Arts students at Department of Foreign languages, Faculty of Humanities, and IBSC students, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. This study is to assess the factors that affect students’ reading skills and its possible solutions. To achieve this, descriptive research design and mixed research method were employed. The total population of 45 students was selected by random sampling technique. Questionnaires and standardized test were major data collecting instruments and semi–structured interview and classroom observation were supportive tools. To collect the relevant data, standardized test was given for the students to check the difficult level and problem area of students’ reading skills and semi- structured interview was conducted with teachers to crosscheck the previous result used by the above tools. The researcher also used classroom observation to make the study more valuable. The data collected from the students and teachers through different instruments were presented in the form of percentages and tables. The data were studied using both quantitative and qualitative procedures. The tools used for collecting data were questionnaire and interview. The major findings were poor foundation of students in reading, moderate teaching reading techniques and strategies, low students motivation and shortage of reading materials at students’ home and library. The main conclusion is that factors related to students, teachers and home tend to be moderated. Based on the major findings and major conclusion, recommendations had been forwarded. Total 5 teachers and 45 M.A. students at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University were the target of this study, and the data were analyzed by using percentage, means, averages and standard deviation (S.D).
The result of this research has been found that:
1. In conclusion of result from students reading skills of M.A. students at Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Humanities, and International Buddhist Studies College (IBSC) students, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in Ayutthaya province, it was found that the level of overall of studying English reading skills was at the moderate level.
2. Students’ responses on factors related to students used by M.A. students are 1). Reading were more difficult skills than other skills, 2) Afraid of reading in class, 3) Having no interest in learning English, 4) Having possibility to join university is very low, 5) Grammar is more important than reading comprehension, 6) Do not know reading strategies and techniques.
Students’ responses on factors related to schools (textbooks, teachers, and library) are 1) Passage has difficult vocabularies, 2) Textbooks are available on time, 3) Passage titles are attractive, 4) Teacher is good in teaching reading skills, 5) Enough books in University library to improve reading, 6) Teacher motivates students to reading equally.
Students’ responses on factors related to outside schools are 1) Having enough time to read English books, 2) English books at their home, 3) Have a good foundation of English language at their previous grades.
The final important part of this study was the priceless ideas and invaluable suggestions to solve the problems of English reading skills, and ways to improve an assessment of English reading skills from some English teachers and scholars who were accordingly interviewed in this study.
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