ATTITUDES TOWARDS READING AMONG PRE-SERVICE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) TEACHERS

The study generally aimed to determine the attitudes of the English as a Second Language (ESL) pre-service teachers at Cagayan State University. Specifically, it aimed to find out the personal and home-related profiles of the ESL pre-service teachers, their attitudes towards reading, and the relationship between their attitudes towards reading and select profile variables. The study used the descriptive correlational design. Data were collected through a questionnaire and an attitudinnaire from the 426 purposively sampled ESL pre-service teachers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. It also utilized the 3-point scale to determine their media exposure. Moreover, Pearson r was used to test the relationship between attitude towards reading and select profile variables. . The pre-service ESL teachers developed a positive attitude towards reading. They believe that reading touches the emotions, develop the talent, improves values formation both personal and professional, strengthens self-discipline, develops strong regard for others, and involves efforts to succeed in a reading task. Moreover, the age, sex, educational attainment of the students? mothers, the grade point average of the students and their exposure to media significantly affected their attitude towards reading.