Abstract:The challenges of reading are indeed apparent in most teaching and learning processes in ESL classrooms. As a result, this study is conducted to resolve the issues of students who seem to find reading to be unbearable. Many of them have limited ability to read well and hence, possess insufficient reading habits to become competent readers, particularly out-of-school context. Besides, poor home literacy environments also contribute to their shortcomings in reading. The main objectives of this study are to identify the students' reasons for reading as well as to find out their home reading environments (reading backgrounds and habits; reading attitudes and motivation; reading exposure and supports). To identify these, questionnaires were distributed to 120 secondary school students (Form 4: 16 years old) from one of the urban schools in Sarawak, Malaysia. The findings indicate that the students read to gain information and knowledge though many chose reading as a hobby as their last choice in explaining their motives of reading. Besides, they preferred non-academic reading materials, mainly lighter forms reading materials such as comics, story books and magazines. Though the students acknowledged the importance of reading in their daily lives, their average reading habits, attitude, motivation, exposure and support within the home domain had suggested otherwise. They mainly read for instrumental purposes while reading for pleasure seemed not to be given priority. Besides, the respondents acknowledge that their parents and themselves did not read much at home. As an implication, it is vital for students to improve their reading perceptions, abilities and practices to achieve personal, societal and national progress. On a final note, parents' early and continuous efforts to be involved in their children's literacy events in an out-of-school context are believed to be vital to inculcate positive reading environments, habits and culture.Keywords: secondary, reading environments, reading habits LINGKUNGAN DAN PRAKTIK MEMBACA SISWA Abstrak: Tantangan dalam membaca memang terlihat di sebagian besar proses belajar mengajar di kelas bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa kedua (ESL). Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mencari jalan keluar bagi siswa yang tampaknya Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, Vol. 3 No. 1, July 2013, pp. 17-28 18 menemukan kesulitan dalam keterampilan membaca. Banyak dari mereka memiliki kemampuan terbatas untuk membaca dengan baik dan karenanya kurang memiliki kebiasaan membaca untuk menjadi pembaca yang kompeten, khususnya konteks di luar sekolah. Selain itu, lingkungan rumah yang kurang memiliki literasi juga berkontribusi terhadap kekurangan mereka dalam membaca. Tujuan utama dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi alasan siswa membaca serta untuk mengetahui lingkungan membaca di rumah mereka (latar belakang dan kebiasaan membaca, sikap dan motivasi membaca, paparan dan dukungan membaca). Untuk mengidentifikasi hal tersebut, kuesioner dibagikan kepada 120 siswa s...

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Language anxiety is one of the factors that needs to be considered in learning and teaching second or foreign language. Language anxiety can be defined as the feelings of uneasiness, worry, nervousness, self-doubt, frustration and apprehension (Brown, 2001) experienced by non-native speakers when learning or using a second or foreign language. Learners respond to language anxiety differently. This study investigates the language anxiety levels and coping strategies applied by adult learners of UiTM Sarawak in using English as a medium of instruction. The subjects of the study involved those between 45 to 50 years of age. The data collection was carried out through the distribution of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results from the study show that the adult learners have different levels of language anxiety and they have also adopted several strategies in coping with their anxiety. The conclusion of the study presents suggestions and recommendations on ways in handling anxiety in both teaching and learning second language.

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