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How to Teach Extensive Reading

Page 1 of 22r: Katie Jones. Pearson Education 2009 PHOTOCOPIABLE

By Margaret Iggulden and Julia Allen

We learn to read by reading. This statement by Frank Smith encapsulates the essence of extensive

reading. Thus teachers need to instill in their students the habit of reading daily. To read extensively

means to read for pleasure or for information; so the more your learners read, the better and faster

they will read. It has been found that extensive reading ensures that all other language skills improve

markedly. To organise time in the curriculum for sustained, silent, extensive reading is therefore vital.

In order to promote the habit of reading there are certain factors that are required.

1 Provide a wide variety of different, interesting and stimulating texts that the students find

enjoyable and fascinating. Find out what the students enjoy reading in their own language and

ensure that the topics are available. The materials need to be at the level, or easier, than the current

level of the students so that they feel comfortable with the text.

There are many texts adapted for EFL readers. Thus learners of all levels and abilities can choose a

book and read independently. Even the beginner can read a novel in English and so acquireconfidence. They need to progress from easy to more difficult texts at their own pace so it is a

pleasure and they are motivated to read more.

2 In lessons that are designed for extensive reading the students should be reading 95% of the

time. Thus they should not be discussing or writing answers to questions. Extensive reading is

reading for enjoyment and for information.

3 The most useful activity that the teacher can do in an extensive reading lesson is to read a book

in English too. This ensures that the students see their teacher as a model, i.e. she/he really reads

for pleasure. Show your love for books. It also ensures that the class reads silently for most of the

lesson. Inculcate the habit of reading a book, be it fiction or non fiction, once a week at least. You

can designate a library period so time and space are created for extensive reading.

4 Students must choose freely what they wish to read. We want our students to read English for

pleasure, for themselves. Many years later this may be the skill that they retain.

8/2/2019 How to Teach Extensive Reading

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How to Teach Extensive Reading

Page 2 of 22r: Katie Jones. Pearson Education 2009 PHOTOCOPIABLE

5 Do follow-up activities. Ask students to give rave reviews, to talk about what they have read,

say whether it was interesting, etc. This is what we do in real life, we share our experiences. They

could write reviews of the stories they read and display them on the notice board or school website.

They could record their favourite short story and play it to another class as a listening activity. There

are many exciting ways to exploit and integrate their reading with other skills.

Finally, a great idea is to organise a class library. Keep records of the books/materials the students

have read. Within two years the class will have improved all their language skills becoming efficient,

independent language learners in the process. An enthusiastic teacher is the key to this success.

Frank Smith,1985, Reading, new edition, Cambridge University Press