مجلة الانسان والمجال
Volume 12, Numéro 1, Pages 293-309
2026-06-15
From Decoding To Understanding: A Comprehensive Review And Empirical Study Of Reading Strategies Among Algerian Efl Students
Authors : Brioua Nadira .
Abstract
This qualitative study investigates the reading comprehension challenges faced by fifty first-year EFL students at Djilali Bounaama University, Algeria. Despite the academic expectations of the LMD system, many students struggle to progress from simple decoding to deep text comprehension. Through three focus group discussions, analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework, the research identifies three specific cognitive and metacognitive barriers: an over-reliance on digital translation tools, which encourages word-for-word processing; working memory overload, which hinders the formation of coherent mental models; and emotional factors, such as linguistic insecurity, which disrupt metacognitive regulation. The findings suggest that without explicit instruction in reading strategies, students remain trapped at the decoding level. Consequently, the study advocates for curriculum reforms in Algerian EFL programs to prioritize strategic information processing over rote knowledge accumulation.
Keywords
Reading comprehension; EFL; Algeria; First-year students; Metacognition.
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