The Impact of Association Techniques in Enhancing Reading Skills of Iraqi EFL Fourth Preparatory School Learners

Abstract

This study examines the effect of association techniques on enhancing the English reading skills on students' academic performance using an experimental design. The study was conducted with a total of 82 students which applies a pre-test/post-test model to measure changes in reading proficiency. The students were given a reading skills test before and after a two-month instructional intervention focused on enhancing reading strategies such as skimming, scanning, and inferencing. The data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests to assess the statistical significance of the improvement. Results showed a notable increase in students’ reading skills scores after integrating association techniques with the educational material, indicating the effectiveness of targeted reading instruction. The findings highlight the value of structured reading programs in improving language learning outcomes. It is recommended that educators adopt these techniques in other educational settings to support students with low reading proficiency.