The Impact of Topic Interest on Second Language Reading Comprehension

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of interesting topics on reading comprehension of Iranian advanced-level learners. 56 Iranian advanced-level students answered an interest questionnaire, and depending on the answers participants were listed in 2 groups of interested and less-interested participants. Participants read a text, and after reading they answered an immediate and a delayed free recall task. Analysis of recall tasks revealed that topic interest did not affect readers’ recall significantly. It was also found that the impact of gender and interest had significant effect on immediate recall of readers; female readers out performed males in recalling interesting topics. Findings suggest that less-interesting topics can also be used in classroom activities as well as interesting topics.