Dubravka Pleše

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, CROATIA; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2198-9554

Dijana Njerš

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, CROATIA; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6221-6418

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36534/erlj.2023.03.07

Bibliographic citation: (ISSN 2657-9774) Educational Role of Language Journal.  Special Volume 1 (2023) LSD EDUCATION SERVING CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION, pp. 86-100

                                                           

Abstract                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Reading is of the key significance as a way to transfer knowledge, both in education and it is most frequently cited favorite leisurely activity as well. It adds to the increase in grades in standardized tests in all subjects, improves comprehension skills, develops fluency, and increases general knowledge, as shown by Cullinan (2000). In studies conducted by Kidd and Castano (2013) it was shown that reading for pleasure improves empathy and enables the reader to achieve a better understanding of the mental states of other people. On the basis of this insight, we decided to check our students’ attitudes towards reading. We also wanted to see if the students’ reading habits changed at all due to the Covid-19 pandemic and how. To achieve that, we designed a questionnaire that was distributed among our students. We gathered information from 227 male and female undergraduate students of the Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering and the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb. The results have indicated that our students read less than expected from sources of questionable reputation and that although they do not spend much time on reading, they do enjoy it. They are conscious that reading is of utmost importance for their academic success, and the purpose of reading is to acquire general knowledge and broaden their own general culture. They also mention that their general reading habits have changed during the Covid-19 epidemic and that they started reading more.

Keywords: reading; academic success; reading sources; general culture   

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