Developing Reading Skills through Task-based Activities at University level

Abstract

Current research shows that reading is not passive skill but rather active one in which involves both human perceptions and thought. Reading skills needs more attention from learners’ point of view and from teachers’ point of view because of their academic purpose is concerned with the use of reading skills. The learners as well as teachers both have to read and understand the prescribed reading materials of their core subjects. The purpose of this research paper is to provide a research informed basis for introducing new ways of developing reading skills of the learners at Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Sindh (Pakistan). The existing method of teaching reading is not up to the mark and does not appear to be more effective in teaching and developing reading skills in the classroom. The main purpose of this research paper is therefore, to create an understanding of how to make an improvement in the existing teaching reading situation by investigating some significant features of the current teaching reading process in this context and comparing this with a research informed intervention, to increase the opportunities for learners to participate actively in their learning process particularly for developing their reading skills through text-based-task activities in the classroom.