Strategy training in foreign language reading

The purpose of reading a particular text is the most important determinant of reading strategy.We do not always require the same level of comprehension, detail, or recall from our reading,and we have to convince our students that it is efficient and profitable to vary their techniqueand speed according to their purpose in reading. Efficient reading is an essential prerequisitefor success in today?s world, where there is never the time to read everything leisurely andthoroughly. Creating an awareness of flexilibility and developing the strategies for this aretherefore among the most useful contributions we can make to our students?s futures.The purpose of this qualitative study was to see whether teachers? at İstanbul TechnicalUniversity, School of Foreign Languages, English Preparatory School are teaching readingstrategies in their classes and if they do so another purpose would be to see which strategiesare being made use of during teaching. This research study was conducted in the first term of2005-2006 academic year. Six teachers responsible for English reading courses at pre-intermediate level participated in this study. In this research study, reading courses wereaudiotaped and notes were taken by the researcher while observing the reading courses. Semi-structured interviews with teachers including the questions about reading lessons were alsomade with the participants. Classroom observation, interview, note-taking and audio tapingare the data-collecting instruments used in this study. Data were analyzed by content analysismethod.According to the results of the research, it was observed that six participant teachers taughtreading strategies which were thought to improve students? reading competence. Furthermore,six participant teachers taught 23 reading strategies to their students.As the data of the research were evaluated, teaching reading strategies to students? will bebeneficial for both students? academic and social lives in the future.Key words: Reading, Reading Strategy, Strategic Reader, Strategy Training in Reading.