The Definition of Reading Habit

commit to user by retention and ended by production; it is where Behavioral Modeling theory takes places.

D. The Nature of Reading Habit

It has been discussed in the previous section the importance of reading in nearly all subjects. Further, it is most often said that reading opens the door for knowledge so that the nurture of the love for reading cannot be overemphasized. The curiosity on students’ real reading habit, then, emerged. However, the definition of reading habit should be clearly exhibited together with its importance and factors influencing it. The next discussions are on those issues.

1. The Definition of Reading Habit

Habit refers to a person does regularly and has been settled, especially something which is hard to be given up Hornby, 1987: 385. Meanwhile, in catholic encyclopedia it is stated that habit is an effect of repeated acts and an aptitude to reproduce them http:www.cath.ency . Further, habit is something which is stored in someone’s mind because it has been done regularly in long period Jacoby and Keley, 1987: 476. It means that someone who has certain habit has done it regularly in long period. For example, if one is in the habit of reading, heshe reads regularly. Wood and Tam 2005: 91 states “Habits reflect the cognitive, neurological, and motivational changes that occur when behaviour is repeated”. Reading habit is closely related to what so called “reading attitude” since it is about learner’s feeling which causes himher to “approach or commit to user avoid” a reading situation Alexander and Filler as cited in Nishimo available at www.cooperation-orgpagesCL D.htmnature. It means that one is said to have good reading attitude if heshe feels that reading is important so that heshe approaches it, and vise versa, one is said to have bad reading habit if heshe feels that reading is not important at all so that heshe avoids it. More recent opinion is stated by Sangkaeo as cited in Tella and Akande “Reading habit refers to the behavior which expresses likeness of reading and taste of reading” www.readingmatrix.com . Nearly all teachers may agree with the writer’s opinion that nowadays students have low reading habit. She argues that this kind of thing happened because some factors hindering students from developing reading habit. She postulates Tella’s and Akande’s research which is concerned with children reading habits and availability of books in Botswana Primary School and its implication for achieving quality education. To sum up, Botswana students do not have a good reading habit and most read only textbook just for the purpose of passing examination. Furthermore, it was revealed that pupils depend largely on the notes given by their teachers as the major source of reading material based on inadequate availability of books. In addition, lack of interesting children’s literature and watching television are identified as factors hindering students from developing reading habit. Finally, it is showed that students spend only one hour per day to read Tella and Akande, available at www.readingmatrix.com . commit to user Finally, the research done by Kaur and Thiyagarajah showed that the students spend less than one hour to read http:ultibase.rmit.edu.auarticles. An international survey has shown that nearly one-half of the UK students read for relaxation while a majority of the children from developing countries read books for passing examinations Books Aid International, in Majid and Tam, 2007: 187-198 at www.journalofeduationalmedia . Further, it is also stated that “watching TV” was the most popular leisure activity Liu in Majid and Tam, 2007: 188 at www.journalofeduationalmedia . From all the explanation of reading habit it can be concluded that reading habit is pattern of both likeness and taste of reading which can make people either approach or avoid reading situation.

2. Factors Influencing Reading Habit