This paper attempts to find out if there are any differences in the use of reading strategies between Vietnamese university students who learn English as a compulsory subject (EFL students) and those who use English as a means for their academic programs (ESL students) in their reading General English (GE) texts. | READING STRATEGIES USED BY VIETNAMESE EFL AND ESL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy* College of Techniques, Economics and Trade, Phu Lam, Ha Dong, Hanoi, Vietnam Received 2 January 2018 Revised 11 March 2018; Accepted 30 March 2018 Abstract: Reading comprehension is one of the most important factors in English language learning for all students because it is the basis of instruction in all aspects of language learning (Mikulecky, 2008). Comprehension is enhanced when the reader actively uses appropriate strategies in the reading process (Brown, 1980). This paper attempts to find out if there are any differences in the use of reading strategies between Vietnamese university students who learn English as a compulsory subject (EFL students) and those who use English as a means for their academic programs (ESL students) in their reading General English (GE) texts. Keywords: reading, reading comprehension, reading strategies, EFL and ESL students 1. Introduction Reading, as a receptive skill, has long been regarded as a prerequisite for foreign language acquisition (Aebersold & Field, 1997) since it functions as an essential source of input for other skills (listening, speaking, and writing) to construct language proficiency. Being the essence of reading (Durkin, 1993), reading comprehension is one of the most important factors in English language learning for all students because it provides the basis for a substantial amount of learning in education (Alvermann & Earle, 2003). Therefore, reading also plays a vital role in academic development, particularly when learners have to work over a huge amount of foreign language materials for their own specialist subjects (McDonough & Shaw, 2013). Students nowadays need not only to acquire knowledge and theories from English reading materials but also to read many English books, periodicals or magazines for the absorption of new knowledge and information. Strengthening English reading * Tel.: 84-989125552 E-mail: .
