Reading is a process that requires effort on the readers’ parts if they want to
understand what they are reading. A considerable amount of research has been devoted to
understanding the processes that contribute to reading comprehension. As part of that
research, this study was conducted to explore Saudi students’ use of reading strategies
and their effect on students’ reading comprehension. The study employed both
quantitative and qualitative methods to obtain information about Saudi students’
perceived use of reading strategies as well as their comprehension level.
The results showed that EFL learners in Saudi Arabia showed significantly more
perceived use of planning strategies than attending strategies and evaluating strategies.
They also perceived the environment as the most important factor affecting their reading
comprehension. The results of the study showed no significant relationship between
Saudi EFL learners comprehension level and their use of reading strategies. In fact, Saudi
students perceived other factors such as prior knowledge (appropriate schemata),
enthusiasm for reading, time on task, purpose for reading, and vocabulary as having
much effective contribution to their final comprehension.
Gender differences favoring female learners were evident in almost all analyses
conducted in the current study. Significant differences were found favoring female
students in overall strategy use, comprehension level, and the use of evaluating strategies.
Suggestions are made that EFL educators in Saudi Arabia focus on increasing the
efficiency of reading strategies when planning reading curriculum and instruction. The
study presents some recommendations that are related to reading materials, the ways
these materials are presented in the classroom, and reading strategy instruction. The study
also recommends that reading instruction should supplement students with sufficient and
balanced extensive reading activities.