In this article, we have examined the studies on the reading competence in the context of French as a foreign language. The goal of this study originated from the observation that the pedagogy in Korea focuses on the linguistic and socio-cultural competences of learners. However, this teaching method would not adequately enable learners to read efficiently, nor to become autonomous readers in French. In order to better understand the reading competence, we have proposed to consider the text in which reading activities take place as a semiotic and linguistic object and as a discourse. We have adopted the "l'ordre du scriptural" and the "l'aire scripturale" according to the theory of J. Peytard. From this perspective, we have examined a text used in the reading comprehension part of DELF, level B1. Our study indicates that reading activity is the communication between the writer and the reader, and requires the reading competence, which the communicative competence of which all components also involved. Thus, we have proposed that it is necessary to teach reading in terms of characteristics of the text which concerns the "l'ordre du scriptural" according to M. Dabène.

The present study examined the effects of gender and grade level on English reading comprehension proficiency of young Korean English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Learners. Through a nationwide reading comprehension assessment event, nine hundred seventy-nine young Korean EFL learners in Korean elementary school grades 1 through 6 were tested for their English reading comprehension measures. Statical analysis was conducted to investigate between and within group differences as well as possible interactional effect of gender and grade level. Results showed significant main effects of gender and grade level on reading comprehension. However, there was no interactional effect of gender and grade level on English reading comprehension of the young Korean EFL learners.