The Impact Of Extensive Reading On Vocabulary Development And Reading Fluency Among Graduate Students At Onaizah College, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research analyzed the relationship between extensive reading habits and vocabulary development, reading fluency and attitudes toward English reading among 120 graduate students at Onaizah College, Saudi Arabia. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and group difference tests from a structured Likert-scale questionnaire. The results indicated a statistically significant and positive correlation between the frequency of extensive reading and vocabulary development (r = .56, p < .01), fluency (r = .48, p < .01) and attitudes/motivation toward reading (r = .52, p < .01). Female college students reported more frequent engagement in extensive reading than males, while more advanced students reported a higher reading frequency and vocabulary development score than their peers in the first year of their graduate program. The results of the study highlight the importance of implementing a structured extensive reading program that incorporates digital reading resources into the curriculum to boost language proficiency and learner motivation in graduate-level students. Pedagogical implications for future teaching practice and research are explored.