The Reading Speed Campaign in Nile Course Syllabus: Evaluation of Goals and Contents

Abstract

Abstract The paper aimed at evaluating the goals and contents of the Reading Speed Campaign (RSC) in the Nile Course Syllabus (NCS) written by Corbluth (1979, 1981 & 1982). To meet the set objectives of the paper, a content analysis approach was adopted to collect and analyze the related information from the core NCS books for teachers and students’. Corbluth’s authorial voice and comments were reduced to an algorithm upon which the evaluation process was based. Findings revealed that the RSC had a systemic plan and an integrated inventory with five aspects; these were: 3 picture-illustrations, a series of authorial advice and comments, a set of 36 Supplementary Readers, intensive reading comprehension texts, and 7 reading speed checks with a word per minute scheme. Results had also indicated that Corbluth assumed a greater discretion for teachers and an active participation of students to realize the goals of his RSC. However, the major dysfunction of the RSC was its being explicitly understated as an incomplete blueprint in the curricular design of NCS. Accordingly, the researcher suggested a number of ways to experiment and transfer the potentials of the RSC to the current EFL Sudanese classroom.