Identifying Problems and Constructing Enhancement Methods for English Reading Skill of the Nursing Students at North Bangkok University

Duangakamon Suwan; Kris  Lietz; Araya  Ariya

Authors

Duangakamon Suwan North Bangkok University, Bangkok, Thailand
Kris Lietz North Bangkok University, Bangkok, Thailand
Araya Ariya Lampang Rajabhat University, Thailand

Keywords:

Problem for English Reading Skill, Enhancement Methods for English Reading Skill, Nursing Student

Abstract

This independent study, entitled “Identifying Problems and Constructing Enhancement Methods for English Reading Skills of Nursing Students at North Bangkok University,” aimed to: (1) identify the English reading problems encountered by nursing students when reading medical texts at North Bangkok University, and (2) develop enhancement methods to improve their English reading skills. The study employed a mixed-method research design and involved 280 nursing students enrolled in the 2025 academic year. Data were collected through a questionnaire assessing students’ reading difficulties and a focus group discussion with three experts to validate the proposed enhancement methods. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings revealed that the students experienced the greatest difficulties in understanding medical terminology, applying grammatical knowledge, expanding vocabulary, and identifying main ideas and supporting details in reading texts. In addition, psychological factors such as anxiety, lack of confidence, and avoidance behaviors were found to impede their reading comprehension. To address these challenges, five enhancement methods were developed: (1) learner-centered instructional strategies, (2) instructor support, (3) appropriate English reading materials, (4) supportive learning environments, and (5) systematic teaching and learning evaluation. These methods were reviewed and validated by experts, yielding acceptable Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) values ranging from 0.66 to 1.00.

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