Reciprocal Teaching and Scaffolding to develop EFL Reading Skill at Undergraduate level

Abstract

This paper explores the use of Reciprocal Teaching and Scaffolding to develop English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading skills among undergraduate students in Bangladesh. It addresses the limitations of traditional, teacher-centered reading instruction, particularly students’ difficulties in understanding texts, identifying key information, using vocabulary in context, and developing independent reading skills. Grounded in Constructivist learning theory, the paper proposes a learner-centered approach using four Reciprocal Teaching strategies—predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing—supported by instructional scaffolding. Three model lesson plans are presented to develop students’ skimming, scanning, inference, comprehension, collaboration, and critical-thinking skills. The approach gradually transfers responsibility from teacher to learners through group work, peer interaction, class presentations, and individual tasks. The paper argues that integrating Reciprocal Teaching and Scaffolding can increase student engagement, motivation, confidence, and autonomy while creating a more interactive reading environment. It concludes that these approaches offer a promising alternative to traditional reading instruction and can contribute to more effective EFL reading development at the undergraduate level in Bangladesh.