Investigating EFL Translation Students’ Problems and Needs on Reading Skills

Abstract

This study investigated the problems and needs faced by translation students in their reading skills. One hundred fifty-six questionnaires were employed as measuring tools and the students were taken from all students in the English for Business and Professional Communication study program in Politeknik Negeri Jakarta. This qualitative descriptive research used survey and interview as the data collection techniques. It also applied Miles and Huberman's theory for data analysis technique that consists of data reduction, data display, and drawing conclusions. Based on the research findings, it show that students have difficulty in identifying patterns of paragraph organization and mastering reading strategies. Both problems become the skills that need to be improved by the students. The findings of this research are also expected to provide valuable information for curriculum designers in developing learning materials for reading skills. Thus, the reading skills provided can focus on translation subjects with the materials related to the student’s needs in the translation market.