The Use of the iPad as an Educational Tool to Enhance Students’ Reading Proficiency

Abstract

The extent to which students can develop their language learning in the target language through enhancing their reading proficiency has been a matter of debate throughout history. The objective of the present study is to investigate the use of technological devices mainly the iPad to enhance the reading proficiency of students of English as a foreign language. Most of Master I students in the department of English at the University of Guelma face a variety of problems that make their reading not proficient. One major problem is their low reading level that is mainly related to the lack of interest and motivation to read. This is the result of the use of old and traditional teaching tools and methods. In the same regard, reading has been always taught theoretically. Hence, the focus should be directed to teaching and practicing reading via the implementation of new digital devices as the iPad. On this basis, we hypothesize that the use of the iPad may lead to high proficiency in reading. In order to prove this hypothesis, a quantitative descriptive method has been selected. More specifically, a questionnaire has been conducted to both students and teachers to gain more information about the sample’s use of the iPad and their awareness towards its positive impact on their reading skills. The results driven from the questionnaires have confirmed to a certain extent that students have a low reading level. Thus, we recommend the integration of new digital devices which are used in their daily lives mainly the iPad in teaching and fostering the reading proficiency of students of English as a foreign language.