READING EVOLUTION IN THE SCREEN ERA: INVESTIGATING THE COMPLEXITY OF DIGITAL NOVEL PROBLEMS FOR EFL STUDENTS

Abstract

The development of digital technology has shifted reading practices from print to screen-based texts, including in the context of learning English as a foreign language (EFL). One increasingly popular form of digital reading is the digital novel, which offers accessibility and authenticity of language, but also presents unique challenges for EFL learners. This study aims to comprehensively examine the complex problems faced by EFL students in comprehending digital novels in the screen era. This study uses a qualitative literature review method with a narrative-thematic approach to relevant journal articles published in the last ten years. The analysis is conducted through a synthesis of research findings related to the evolution of literacy from print to digital, the characteristics of digital novels, and EFL students' understanding of screen-based narrative texts. The results of the study indicate that the problems of reading digital novels among EFL students arise from the interaction between linguistic limitations, the demands of long narrative texts, and the characteristics of the digital reading environment, which tends to be fragmented. These findings confirm that difficulties in comprehending digital novels are not solely caused by language ability but are a multidimensional phenomenon influenced by digital literacy, reading strategies, and the technological context. Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of integrating reading strategy development and digital literacy in teaching literary reading for EFL students.