Utilizing PQRST Strategy to teach Iraqi EFL Third-year Students Novels

Abstract

The Preview, Question, Read, Summarize, and Test (PQRST) strategy is effective for increasing reading comprehension skills, especially in EFL situations where learners struggle with extended literary texts. This study investigates the impact of the PQRST strategy on Iraqi EFL students’ performance in reading and analyzing novels. More Specifically, it aims to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference in the post-test achievement scores between an experimental group taught using the PQRST strategy and a control group taught using traditional methods.

       A total of 80 third-year English Department students, College of Education for Humanities, University of Kirkuk, were randomly selected for the academic year 2023–2024. The sample was divided into two equal groups: an experimental group and a control group. Both groups were instructed by the same researcher using the same literary material, Hard Times by Charles Dickens, covering key themes, character development, and vocabulary. The experimental group was exposed to the PQRST strategy, which emphasizes active engagement with text through structured stages of learning. While the control group received instruction through conventional teacher- centered techniques.

        An achievement test was administered after the instructional period to assess students’ reading comprehension and interpretive skills. The results revealed that students in the experimental group significantly outperformed those in the control group. These findings suggest that the PQRST strategy promotes deeper engagement with literary texts, enhances students’ ability to summarize and extract essential information, and improves overall academic achievement in literature courses.