Evaluation of 8th grade students’ engagement in literature lessons in secondary education

Abstract

This study aims to examine the level of student engagement in literature classes among eighth-grade students in general education schools. A total of 607 students from Mongolia and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) participated in the study. Data were collected using questionnaires and classroom observation methods. Survey results indicate that 49.8% of students reported a high level of interest in literature classes, while 27.5% reported a moderate level of interest; however, their actual classroom participation was relatively low. Observation findings revealed that among 314 observed students, 45.9% did not participate in classroom activities at all, 29% responded to teachers’ questions, 9% engaged in classroom discussions, and only 1% participated in cooperative learning activities. The results demonstrate a clear discrepancy between students’ expressed interest in literature as a subject and their actual level of participation in classroom learning activities.