The influence of reading topics on students’
motivation to read at Vinh Bao high school, Hai
Phong Nguyễn Thị Thúy Minh Trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ
Luận văn Thạc sĩ ngành: English teaching methodology; Mã số: 60 14 10
Người hướng dẫn: M.A. Nguyễn Thị Mai Hữu
Năm bảo vệ: 2012 Abstract. Motivation is a key factor in second language acquisition, for which teachers of
EFL (English as a foreign language) have always tried to find out strategies and techniques.
In an attempt to investigate the role of reading topics to the students’ motivation in learning
reading skill and their preferences for the current reading topics, the study was conducted
with 82 grade 11 students and 10 teachers at Vinh Bao High School by means of survey
questionnaires and interview. The study focuses on 4 main issues: (1) students’ attitude
towards reading skill, (2) types of motivation possessed by the 11th - form students at Vinh
Bao High School, (3) the students’ attitudes towards the current reading topics, (4) the
inluence of reading topics on students’ motivation to read. The findings hereof are supposed
to be of interest of not only the EFL teachers but the EFL materials developers as well.

Keywords. Phương pháp giảng dạy; Kỹ năng đọc; Tiếng Anh

Content
1. Rationale for the study
Krashen & Terrel (1983:131) state that “Reading may contribute significantly to competence
in a second language. There is good reason, in fact, to hypothesize that reading makes a contribution

attitudes on current reading topics and the influence of the reading topics on students’ motivation to
learn reading skill. Needless to say, it is necessary for the teachers to know what their students like
to read.
5. Significance of the study
The study highlights the influence of reading topics on the motivation in learning reading
skills.
The findings of the study are believed to be useful for English teachers to be aware of the
essential role of reading topics in the students’ motivation to learn reading. Hopefully, it can help
them to motivate students in learning reading skills.
6. Methods of the study
The theoretical background of the study mainly is developed basing on the references of and
analysis on relevant theories about motivation and reading. The study is carried out on the basis of
survey questionnaires.
Firstly, for the theoretical basis, a lot of reference materials on motivation and reading have
been gathered, analyzed and synthesized thoroughly with the clue consideration on the teachers’ and
students’ teaching and learning situations.
Secondly, interviews and questionnaires are carried out with teachers and students of English
to gather the most reliable data for the thesis.
7. Design of the study
The study is organized in three parts:
Part A: Introduction presents the rationale, the aims of the study, the research questions,
the scope of the study, the significance of the study, the methods of the study and the design of the
study.
Part B: Development consists of three chapters:
Chapter 1: Literature review provides theoretical background for the study. Its focus is on
introducing important relevant concepts, discussions of issues and ideas on theories for motivation,
nature of reading and motivation in learning reading as well as factors affecting motivation in
learning reading.
Chapter 2: Methodology presents the methods used in the study including research methods,
research setting , participants of the study, data collection instruments, data collection and data

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