PhD student Nino Baluashvili defended dissertation at Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University Faculty of Education Sciences on January 27. The title of the dissertation work is “Developing Reading Comprehension through Literary Texts (Phenomenological Study)”, (academic supervisor – Associate Professor Tamar Mikeladze).

The aim of the study is a) to describe the reading process of literary texts in English language, as well as comprehension process in English language learner’s mind as thoroughly as possible; b) to research language learners’ attitudes, interests, difficulties and coping techniques for reading literary texts.

Scientific novelty of the dissertation tends as follows: studying the processes and difficulties of literary text reading in details that enable us to form a better teaching methodology and make valuable conclusions and recommendations. In the process of forming a comprehensive methodology the research takes into considerations not only the detected difficulties of literary works reading, but students’ attitudes, interests and demands as well. It also suggests the ways to deal with the arising difficulties. Besides, the research also revealed the fact that some strategies turn into anti-strategic due to their ineffective usage that hinder accurate comprehension. Also, development of most students’ reading comprehension by independent reading is very slow and purposeful teaching of using strategies effectively is needed.

Nino Baluashvili was awarded the academic degree of the Doctor of Education.