The Impact of Cloud Computing Applications on Improving EFL Critical Reading Skills of Secondary School Students

Abstract     
The present study aimed at investigating the impact of cloud computing applications on improving EFL critical reading skills of secondary school students. The targeted critical reading sub- skills were (Distinguishing cause and effect relationship, Interpreting the ideas and information implicitly  stated  in the text, Recognizing the main ideas, Differentiating between facts and opinions, Recognizing author's bias, Differentiating relevant and irrelevant information, Recognizing author's purpose, Inferring the antecedent  of the sentence) .
The participants of the study were twenty- first year secondary students at Temai Al-amdid secondary school, Dakahleiia Governorate. They were divided into two groups: The experimental group was trained according to the proposed training program via cloud computing. The control group was trained according to the traditional way of teaching critical reading skills.The experimental treatment was conducted during the second semester of the academic year 2017/2018.The study adopted the quasi experimental design using  a pre-post design with two groups: one experimental and one control to measure the effectiveness of using cloud computing in improving critical reading skills of first year secondary stage students. Two instruments were designed and used by the researcher: critical reading skills questionnaire and a pre- post critical reading test.Results indicated that cloud computing applications helped participants improve  their  EFL critical reading  skills and enhance their  attitude towards critical reading.
 
    Key words: Cloud Computing Applications and  EFL Critical Reading Skills .