Motivating Struggling Malaysian Primary ESL Readers Through The ‘Read and Record Project’

Abstract

This research was conducted to explore how the ‘Read and Record Project’ could help motivate struggling Malaysian primary ESL readers to read.  This paper will report on motivating effects of the ‘Read and Record Project’ towards struggling readers. A case study was employed as the research design and four instruments were used to collect the data which were semi-structured interview, observation notes, and reflective journal. The data collected were analysed thematically. The participants were chosen through purposive sampling. Before this study was carried out, a preliminary study was done in a primary school located in Betong, Sarawak. From the preliminary study, four struggling readers from Year 3 were chosen to participate in the ‘Read and Record Project’. Findings revealed five elements of the project that could help motivate struggling readers to read through the project. The elements include independent learning, parents’ involvement, video production, sense of accomplishment, and fun learning. To conclude, the findings proved that the ‘Read and Record Project’ could enhance the motivation to read among struggling Malaysian primary ESL readers.