ENGINEERING STUDENT PERCEPTIONS ON THE INFLUENCE OF YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE TOWARDS DEVELOPING APPRECIATION FOR READING

• Main Authors: SIVAPALAN, SUBARNA, Idrus, Hairuzila, Bhattacharyya , Ena, Md Nordin, Shahrina
• Format: Article
• Published: MELTA (Malaysian English Language Teaching Association) 2008
• Subjects: LB2300 Higher Education
• Online Access: http://eprints.utp.edu.my/3366/1/MELTA_paper_%28YAL_and_reading%29.docx; http://eprints.utp.edu.my/3366/2/Young_adult_lit.pdf; http://eprints.utp.edu.my/3366/
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Petronas

This study set out to gauge the perceptions of engineering students on the inclusion of literary texts in their English language programme in developing a sense of appreciation for reading. Student perceptions were gauged upon the following dimensions: importance of literature to develop reading skills, texts and genre inclination for reading and the use of short stories and young adult literature in English to develop interest for reading. Findings from the feedback obtained via a questionnaire are discussed with the hope of giving educators a foretaste of the potential of the use of young adult literary materials in developing a sense of appreciation for reading among engineering students.