Implementing A Questioning Strategy in Teaching Reading Texts in EFL Classes: A Qualitative Study

Authors

Mohammed A. Alzahrani Dr., School of Education, University of Bisha, Saudi ArabiaFollow

Abstract

Developed by Beck and McKeown in the 1980s, Questioning the Author (QtA) emphasises active engagement with texts to construct meaning rather than passive information extraction. Despite numerous studies attempting to solve challenges in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context, there is a lack of interpretive studies that investigate this issue from the actual field. This exploratory study investigated how EFL teachers' implementation of QtA and their perspectives toward the use of the QtA strategy in teaching reading comprehension in Saudi secondary schools through nine interviews and eighteen classroom observations, analysed thematically. Findings showed that effective QtA use requires lengthy, relevant passages to facilitate critical analysis, but Saudi curricula primarily offer short, culturally disconnected texts, reducing student engagement. Despite this, teachers viewed QtA positively, noting it improved reading attitudes and classroom language practice, though its effectiveness varied by proficiency level. The study highlights the need for better-aligned instructional materials while affirming the potential of QtA in EFL instruction.

Keywords

thematic analysis, reading comprehension, Questioning the Author, reading, EFL classrooms

Author Bio(s)

Mohammed A Alzahrani is an assistant professor in the School of Education, at the University of Bisha, Saudi Arabia. He has a Master's and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. His research interests are in using mixed methods research in social science, reading comprehension, and TESOL particularly in Arab, and new literacy studies. Please direct correspondence to a.alahmadi@ub.edu.sa and https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6941-2180

Acknowledgements

No

Publication Date

8-25-2025

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2025.7692

Recommended APA Citation

Alzahrani, M. A. (2025). Implementing a questioning strategy in teaching reading texts in EFL classes: A qualitative study. The Qualitative Report, 30(8), 4106-4128. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2025.7692

ORCID ID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6941-2180