Language, Individual & Society, Volume 12, 2018

Abstract: Research was started in Tallinn Health Care College to investigate, describe and compare reading strategies among the representatives of generation X and Y with the hypotheses stating that representatives of generation X and Y use different reading strategies. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of 25 statements on the text reading strategies, 3 multiple choice questions on preferences considering the design and medium of the text, and three open questions on the translation process when working with a text in student’s third language was prepared and conducted during the first, piloting stage of the research among the students of THCC. The analysis of the answers to three questions from a questionnaire are introduced in the presentation. First question investigated the preferred medium of reading the text from - paper, computer or other smart device. Question offered a range of possible answers to mark the level of one's preferences: 0-20%, 20-40%, 60-80%, 80-100%. Second question investigated the language in which the representatives of both generations prefer to read. The range 40-60% was most often marked in regard to reading texts in Estonian, in which 30% of the representatives of generation X and Y preferred to read. Third question focused investigated using the Likert scale on how and where the texts were searched from. Both generations preferred internet as the first source of information, which was followed by databases. The analysis of questionnaires confirms the choice of method and presents information indicating similarities but also differences in generations' preferences. The results direct the authors toward further research of the field as well as to investigate the strategies of working with texts keeping in mind the needs of effective teaching by making conclusions which mediums and strategies should be used when dealing with different generations in common classroom.