i

An Introduction to

EFL College Students'

Reading

Comprehension Skills

ESP

By

Dr. Bushra Saadoon Mohammed Al-Noori

Mr. Yousuf Taresh Hilal

IDEA PUBLISHING WWW.ideapublishing.in

ii

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Price: D 1000.00

Publishing Year: December 2017

The opinions/ contents expressed in this book are solely of the author and do not represent the opinions/ standings/ thoughts of idea publishing.

Printed in India

iii

About the Authors

X Bushra Saadoon M. Al-Noori has received her Ph.D.

degree in English Language Teaching from Baghdad

University, Iraq in 1995.

She is Currently an Associate Professor In English

Language Teaching, Baghdad University College of

Education, Ibn Rushd For Human Sciences, English

Department, Baghdad, Iraq & She also Visited Italy As a Visiting

Professor In the Year 2015-16 in Florence University, to evaluate the

English Language Program between Iraq and Italy & she has got her

Excellent Marks. She participated in an International Conferences in

Italy, Germany, India , Dubai, Yemen and Turkey .

She published many Articles and researches in English Language

Teaching inside and outside Iraq Her Research Include Method of

Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Dr. Bushra is a member of the

Iraqi Translation Association & Psychological Education and Iraqi

Teacher Union. She has published Three books in IDEA Publishing. The

first book with Dr. Fatima Al-Musawi entitled Reading and Writing

Skills practice book and The second book with Dr.Bushra Nima Rashid

entitled Teaching English Grammar In Iraq and The Third one is the

current book with Mr.Yousuf Tarish this year 2017 in India and she had

revised one book in Iraq with Ajwad T. Abood entitled Methods of

Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Iraq 2017.

iv

Yousuf Taresh Hilal has received his BA degree in

English Arts from Baghdad University, College of

Education, English Department. He has received his

MA degree in English language Teaching from Jordan.

He is currently an Assistant lecturer in English

Language, Al-Muthana University. Iraq He is the Head

of TEOFL centre and participated in the University Educational

Activities.

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About the Book

X This book is talking about an introduction of Reading Comprehension

and ESP English for Specific Purposes. It provides the College Students

with the basic principles of reading comprehension. It helps them to

focus on their needs to succeed in studying other University courses

It is written in a clear and logical way that shows various subjects in

Psychology, History and General Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and

Physics).So the students can gain a deeper conceptual understanding of

the basic material of Human and Scientific areas. We dedicated this

humble efforts to our distinguished students in English Department and

other Departments ,with respect.

vi

Contents

X Chapter

No.

Page No.

Introduction 1-2

1. Educational Psychology: Behaviour 3-44

The Aims of Psychology

Psychology and Educational

Psychology

Meaning of Educational

Psychology

Status of Educational Psychology

Educational Psychology

Branches of Psychology

Meaning and Definitions of

Educational Psychology

Brief History of Educational

Psychology

Nature of Educational Psychology

Functions of Educational

Psychology

vii

Major Areas of Educational

Psychology

Limitations of Educational

Psychology

Educational Psychology as a

Science

Critical Thinking

Needs and Problems of Children

Physiological Needs and their

Satisfaction

Emotional Needs and their

Satisfaction

Social Needs and their

Satisfaction

Intellectual Needs and their

Satisfaction

Sequences in the Development of

Social Behaviour of Students

2. Psychological Counselling and

Educational Guidance

45--68

Counselling in Schools

Elementary School Education in

the 21st Century

Counsellors are social change

experts

Effective Counselling Services

viii

3. The Foundations of Civilizations

(Prehistory 3000 B.C.)

69-94

Greek Civilization

The Roman Republic

Sumerian Civilization

Civilizations in India and China

The Greek City-States

The Roman Empire

Different Religions in India and

China

The Middle Ages in Europe -1

The Middle Ages in Europe -2

The Middle Ages in Europe – 3

4. General Sciences 95-150

Automation

Science and Technology in the

Middle Ages

Universities in the Middle Ages

(1000-1500)

Modern Universities

The Science of Cells

Discoveries in Biology and

Chemistry

ix

Science and the Church

Science and Community

The Age of Reason

The Topic Sentence in the

Scientific Paragraph

Disease

Language Activities for the

Students of Science

Synonyms and Hyponyms

What is Chemistry?

Biology (Basic Concepts)

Biological Issues

Ecology and Ecomssyste

General Scientific Issues

Scientific Definitions

The Biosphere

What is the Scientific Method?

5 Reading Comprehension Skills and

Basic Grammatical Structures

151-212

Nothing to Sell and Nothing to

Buy

Wanted: a Large Biscuit Tin

By Heart

“It’s Only Me”

x

The Death of a Ghost

A Puma at Large

A Very Dear Cat

Mary had a Little Lamb

Thirteen Equals One

The Double Life of Alfred Bloggs

One Man’s Mean is Another

Man’s Poison

Basic Grammatical Structures:

Simple Present Tense

Present Continuous Tense

6 Philosophy of Education 213-224

Materials and Energy

Life has Unity

Important Biological Issues

History of Biology

The Origins of Organic Chemistry

Basic Chemistry Principles

7 Important Skills in Historical Studies 225-346

The Dawn of Civilization

(Prehistory)

Human Origins

xi

Adapting to New Environments

Life in the Stone Age

Can DNA Help Trace Human

Origins?

Stone Age Art and Religion

The Beginnings of Agriculture in

History

Foundations of Civilizations

The First Civilizations (Fertile

River Valleys)

Characteristics of Early

Civilizations

Developed Cities

Organized Governments

Formulized Religion

Specialization of Labour

Record Keeping and Writing

Change in Civilizations

River Valleys and Civilizations

The Ancient Near East (4000 B.

C.– 550 B. C.)

Mesopotamia and Sumer

Sumerian Civilization

Sumerian Culture

Mesopotamian Achievements

xii

Fertile Crescent Empires

World History

General Historical Subjects

Two Kingdoms

Industrialization and Nationalism

(1700 – 1900)

Greek Achievements (2100 B.C.

– 150 B.C.)

Socrates

Plato

Aristotle

Great Events in History

Alexander’s Conquests

End of the Empire

General Concepts in History

Society and Culture in the Islamic

Civilization

Astronomy and Mathematics

Medicine

Discoveries in Astronomy,

Physics, and

Mathematics

xiii

EFL Proficiency Tests in History:

Various Subjects

347-398

Dictators in Europe (After the

World War I)

Critical Thinking: Why Should

We Study History?

General Tests in History

References 399-400

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Introduction

University students are studying many subjects in English. This means

that they will be listening to lectures and taking notes in English.

Furthermore, they should be able to write scientific texts and

examination answers in English. The general aim of this book is to help

undergraduate students study their courses in English. They will learn

reading comprehension skills that will help them read their textbooks

more efficiently. In fact, undergraduate students should be able to learn

writing skills that will help them write scientific texts.

Through a scientific (academic) study of history, university students

will become familiar with the varied experiences of people throughout

history as well as with the common patterns of civilizations. University

students will learn about the political, social, and economic

developments that have created the world as they know it. As university

students study the past, they will begin to better understand the

challenges of the present and the major issues of the future.

This book enables university students to better understand

fundamental principles, solve problems, and focus on what they need to

know to succeed in studying other university courses. It is written in a

way that clearly shows various subjects in psychology, history, and

general sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics). So that university

students can gain a deeper conceptual understanding of the basic

materials of human and scientific areas.

Dr. Bushra Saadoon Mohammed Alnoori & Dr. Yousuf Taresh Hilal

2

3

Educational Psychology: Behaviour

In fact, behaviour covers everything a human or an animal does during

its life. Scientists who study behaviour are interested in finding out what

affects behaviour. They want to know why an animal or a human

behaves in a certain way in a particular situation, for example, the way

people behave in groups, how they sit or look at each other, or why they

differ in solving the same problems.

Behaviour has been divided into three main types. They are:

1. Reflex Actions: Reflex actions are not planned or decided before.

For example, if you accidently touch a hot object, you pull your hand

away without thinking.

2. Instinctive Behaviours: Instinctive behaviour is the behaviour that

is not learned at all. For example, A young bird that has never seen

another bird built a nest, does not have to be taught how to build one.

3. Learned Behaviours: Scientifically, behaviour can be changed by

learning. For example, many animals learn what is safe and what is

not safe by experience.

Scientists study behaviour by experiments. They often use

statistics to analyse their observations.

Study Questions:

1. Scientists claim that psychology studies certain behaviours in

humans only.

(True / False)

Chapter 1

Dr. Bushra Saadoon Mohammed Alnoori & Mr. Yousuf Taresh Hilal

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2. When scientists study behaviour, what do they want to discover?

When scientists study behaviour, they want to discover what

affects behaviour.

3. Find a word in the text which means “discover”.

“find out” means “discover”.

4. What are the three main types of behaviour?

The three main types of behaviour are: Reflex Actions,

Instinctive Behaviours, and Learned Behaviours.

5. Choose the correct answer: “Many animals learn what is safe and

what is not safe by experience”.

(Reflex Behaviour / Instinctive Behaviour / Learned Behaviour)

The Aims of Psychology

(Psychology is the science of mind and behaviour)

As a science, psychology has five central aims:

1. To describe how people and other animal species behave.

2. To understand the causes of these behaviours.

3. To predict how people and other animal species will behave under

certain conditions.

4. To influence behaviour through the control of its causes.

5. To apply psychological knowledge in ways that enhance human

welfare.

In fact, the scope of modern psychology stretches from the

borders of medicine and the biological sciences to the social sciences.

Because we are biological creatures living in a very complex world,

psychologists scientifically study all the factors that affect human

behaviours to understand why people and other animal species behave,

think, and feel as they do.

An Introduction to EFL Collage students’ Reading Comprehension Skills ESP

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Study Questions:

1. Why do psychologists scientifically study all the factors that affect

human behaviours?

Psychologists scientifically study all the factors that affect

human behaviours because we are biological creatures living

in a very complex world.

2. The underlined word “complex” means ………………..

(complicated / simple / comprehensive / reasonable)

3. According to the five aims of psychology, what does psychology try

understand?

According to the five aims of psychology, psychology tries

to understand the causes of human and animal behaviours.

4. According to the five aims of psychology, what does psychology

describe?

According to the five aims of psychology, psychology

describes how people and other animal species behave?

5. What does the underlined pronoun “they” refer to?

The underlined pronoun “they” refers to “people and other

animal species”.

6. According to the five aims of psychology, what does psychology

apply?

According to the five aims of psychology, psychology

applies psychological knowledge in ways that enhance

human welfare.

Psychology and Educational Psychology

In fact, psychology deals with the study of human behaviour in general.

It emphasizes on learning theories and principles. Educational

psychology studies the behaviour of humans in the educational situation,

the process of learning, conditions that help and reinforce learning, and

Dr. Bushra Saadoon Mohammed Alnoori & Mr. Yousuf Taresh Hilal

6

motivation to learn. Actually, educational psychology focuses on ways to

achieve effective improvements in learning and problem solving

capacities.

Study Questions:

1. What does psychology does study in general?

Psychology studies human behaviour in general.

2. What does educational psychology study?

Educational psychology studies the following important

scientific aspects:

A. The behaviour of humans in the educational

situation.

B. The process of learning.

C. Conditions that help and reinforce learning.

D. Motivation to learn.

E. Ways to achieve effective improvements in learning.

3. What does the underlined pronoun “It” refer to?

The underlined pronoun “It” refers to “psychology”.

Meaning of Educational Psychology

Different psychologists and scholars have defined educational

psychology in different ways:

1. Walter (1935) considers that psychology for teachers should be a

branch of social psychology concerned with the study of human

beings.

2. Anderson (1949) argues that educational psychology should aim at

providing effective information and related principles for the

solution of education problems and further development of skills in

dealing with children in different situations.

3. Freeman (1953) argues that educational psychology should include

topics (issues) such as motivation, personality, development, factors

An Introduction to EFL Collage students’ Reading Comprehension Skills ESP

7

in mental growth, and social development, in the context of

influencing learning.

4. Caroll (1965) defines educational psychology as the study of school

learning in all its aspects.

5. Klausmier (1975) suggests that educational psychology is the science

that studies student behaviour in an educational setting.

6. Ausubel (1969) argues that educational psychology is concerned

with the nature, conditions, outcomes, and evaluation of school

learning. He also argues that the school situation can be considered

as a system.

7. Skinner (1968) argues that educational psychology deals with

developing concepts, principles, and theories of teaching. He also

argues that educational psychology needs to develop a general

methodology of teaching based on the understanding of the learning

process with application to teaching. Teaching and learning are in

this context required to be considered as closely inter-related.

8. Anderson (1967) also stresses on the centrality of teaching and

learning in the study of educational psychology. He argues that

educational psychology should mainly deal with two questions:

1) What are the effective conditions that can develop

student learning?

2) What are the features of instructional materials that

facilitate student learning.

In fact, educational psychology is aimed at generating

knowledge and organising it systematically in the form of information,

principles, theories and systems to be applied to teaching and learning.

Status of Educational Psychology

Susan Isaac (1924) said that there was little knowledge about learning

and instruction in educational colleges. Drever (1935) argued that

since education is the process of modifying and controlling the behaviour

of children, and psychology is the scientific study of behaviour, the

teacher must be fully and clearly informed about the facts and principles

of human behaviour.

Dr. Bushra Saadoon Mohammed Alnoori & Mr. Yousuf Taresh Hilal

8

Drever found that teachers did not make analysis of specific behaviours

of children. He suggested that psychology should be taught as a

discipline in its own right.

Study Questions:

1. What does the underlined pronoun “He” in the second paragraph

refer to?

The underlined pronoun “He” in the second paragraph refers

to “Drever”.

2. What did Susan Isaac say about learning and instruction in

educational colleges in 1924?

Susan Isaac said that there was little knowledge about

learning and instruction in educational colleges.

3. According to the text, what is education?

According to the text, education is the process of modifying

and controlling the behaviour of children.

4. Why did Drever argue that the teacher must be fully and clearly

informed about the facts and principles of human behaviour?

Drever argued that the teacher must be fully and clearly

informed about the facts and principles of human behaviour

because education is the process of modifying and

controlling the behaviour of children, and psychology is the

scientific study of behaviour.

5. Why dis Drever suggest that psychology should be taught as a

discipline in its own right?

Drever suggested that psychology should be taught as a

discipline in its own right because he found that teaches did

not make analysis of specific behaviours of children.

6. Find a word in the text which means “completely”.

“fully” means “completely”.

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