The Role of Grit and Classroom Enjoyment in Fostering Algerian EFL Students' Reading Skill :

Abstract

Learning English as a foreign language has become tightly anchored and deeply rooted with the mastery of the four fundamental linguistic skills namely : listening , speaking , reading and writing . In line with such , reading is considered as an essential component of English language teaching , and functions as crucial element to develop language proficiency . It is the skill that EFL students should enhance to increase their vocabulary knowledge and improve other skills . For these reasons , it is very important for EFL learners to have not the ability to read written materials , but also the capability to understand what they have read . Indeed , reading is a complex process that requires a set of literacy skills , thinking processes , and comprehension . Yet , many learners feel that they cannot effectively comprehend what they read . This is believed to be due to the impact of some psychological factors such as ;grit and classroom enjoyment which can contribute immensely in reading achievement and progress . Along this line of thoughts , the present investigation aims at exploring the role of grit and classroom enjoyment in fostering EFL learners reading skills. To set up this research , a case study of third year EFL students in the English department at Medea University was undertaken. The data were collected through three research instruments : students’ questionnaire , teachers’ questionnaire , and grit quiz administrated to thirty five (35) EFL students , and eight (08) EFL teachers . Moreover , the quantitative and qualitative analysis of data revealed that Algerian EFL students at Medea University are extremely gritty and that grit has a crucial role in their academic reading achievement. Besides, the findings showed that classroom enjoyment plays an essential role in boosting EFL learners’ reading comprehension, promoting their reading habits, and offering a better reading experience. On that basis, the EFL students’ perseverance, resilience, and engagement affect their reading skills positively.