Percepción de los Estudiantes de Universidad sobre el Uso de Círculos de Lectura en el Aprendizaje del Inglés como Lengua Extranjera.

Abstract

This paper reports students ́ perceptions about reading in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) through the use of literature circles. This case study was applied in a setting with 74 participants who attended English classes level 1, from Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo - Morona Santiago campus, during the academic period October 2017 – March 2018. Data was collected through a survey validated by experts at the end of the period and 20 students were selected at random to complete it. Students were challenged to read the material available in their English texts. Also, students completed different roles on the ongoing process, so they provided information to reach conclusions from different perspectives focusing on the positive and negative aspects of this technique to learn English. The results of the study demonstrated that students noticed that their grammar and vocabulary knowledge increased. Also, they practiced more speaking skills when reporting the allotted roles. As a conclusion, implementing reading through literature circles can help students to develop their reading and speaking skills in English, and going beyond it helped to increase vocabulary and grammar knowledge.