Specific reading at an advanced level: linguistic or strategic competence?

Abstract

This paper begins by giving a brief outline of the research carried out into how second language students reach an acceptable level of reading. Based on the theories which suggest that, on the one hand, reading ability depends on linguistic level, and, on the other, that students transfer reading strategies acquired in their mother tongue to reading in the second language, we present a case study carried out with students of Tourism at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in order to find out which factors do, in fact, lead to a better level of reading comprehension.

Keywords

• reading
• case study
• linguistic competence
• strategic competence