Embracing the 10 mins ‘Jom baca bersama’ annual event

PEKAN, 24 April 2024 - ‘Jom Baca Bersama’ is a 10-minute initiative in Malaysia celebrated yearly on 23rdApril in conjunction with World Book & Copyright Day. 

This event is celebrated all over the world. The objective of World Book & Copyright Day is to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. 

This year, the theme for this annual event is ‘Read your way’, signifying the importance of choice and enjoyment in fostering a passion for reading. 

Students will most likely enjoy reading when they can make their own reading choicesand one of the most important skills to master when learning a second language (L2) is reading. 

Not forgetting, when it comes to reading, motivation as well as the right reading strategies play a significant role in reading.
 
At a recent international conference in Cappadocia, Turkey, with presenters from over 39 different countries, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) Senior Lecturer, Dr. Ruhil Amal Azmuddin presented her research that highlights the complex interplay between students' familiarity with these strategies and the contextual demands of the material they encounter. 

Her findings suggest that while students are inclined to employ such reading strategies, their application varies depending on factors such as text type and necessity. 

According to her, while students may unwittingly resort to metacognitive reading strategies, there exists a pressing need for structured guidance to ensure their effective application. 

“This insight underscores the importance of equipping students with the tools to navigate and comprehend digital texts precisely and accurately,” she said. 
 
While the study's findings offer valuable insights into the metacognitive online reading habits of university students, it is crucial to recognize that these insights may not be universally applicable, particularly in technical fields. 

He added, moving forward, researchers and educators must continue to explore and refine strategies that empower students to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and proficiency, enabling the desire to read among.
 
Dr. Amal is a passionate researcher in reading. 

She has conducted extensive reading programs with her students to help them be more proficient in English through reading. 

Currently, she is working on projects related to online reading and the use of technology in navigating online materials. 

She can be contacted at ruhilamal@umpsa.edu.my.
 
By: Dr. Ruhil Amal Azmuddin and Dr. Ezihaslinda Ngah, Centre for Modern Languages