Abstract:
This study aims at exploring challenges that contribute to the problem of learners in EFL
reading skills. The participants of the study were grade 11 English language teachers and
students in Gondar Zuriyaworeda (Guzara secondary school). Samples were selected using a
concive and simple random sampling lottery method. Out of 541 students, 230 of them were
selected for the study. The data were collected by using observation, questionnaires, and
interviews. The data that was gathered through observation, open-ended questionnaires, and
interviews were analyzed qualitatively in words. On the other hand, the data that were collected
through a closed-ended questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively in percentages, frequency
and mea.The data were categorized and descriptively analyzed. As a result, the findings depicted
that appropriate reading skills, challenges, strategies practices, and procedures were used in
grade11. Teachers were observed teaching without appropriate strategies for reading. There has
been given little attention to silent reading. The consequence of wrong reading practices used
has resulted in the weak performance of the students in the reading activity. To this end, this
research paper provides a recommendation that could bring about a change in practices of
teaching in grade level studied, so that current techniques and procedures of teaching reading
skills could be employed. The textbook size should be reduced as it contains unnecessary
repeated activities rather it should contain short texts for better reading practices.
