The relationship between L۱ and L۲ reading attitudes in EFL primary school learners: The role of gender, age, and L۲ proficiency

Learners’ attitudes towards learning have been found to influence second language (L۲) development. It has been suggested that affective factors such as first language (L۱) reading attitude can be transferred to the L۲ along with L۱ skills. In English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts, research has shown that the role that reading attitude plays in reading comprehension is as important as the nature of the reading strategies used. Therefore, it becomes necessary to understand the relationship between L۱ and L۲ reading attitudes in EFL contexts and evaluate how demographic and cognitive variables can mediate that relationship. To this end, the present quantitative study sought to contribute to this area by investigating the relationship between L۱ and L۲ reading attitudes in ۶۵ EFL elementary school learners and by assessing the impact of gender, age, and L۲ proficiency on these attitudes. Main results revealed that age and L۲ proficiency did not correlate with either L۱ or L۲ reading attitude components, L۱ and L۲ reading attitudes correlated weakly, and older female learners displayed stronger attitudes toward L۱ reading recreational aspects. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of affective components in understanding L۱ and L۲ reading attitudes.

کلیدواژه ها:

L۱ reading attitude ، L۲ reading attitude ، L۲ proficiency ، gender ، L۱ reading attitude ، L۲ reading attitude ، L۲ proficiency ، gender