1.1: Extensive Reading Preview
- Page ID
- 370597
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Spend a few minutes previewing the chapter to see what you will learn. This chapter will explore the following:
- What is extensive reading?
- Why is extensive reading important for language learners?
- Where can I find reading material that is interesting and at my level?
- How can I do extensive reading to improve my reading fluency and comprehension?
As you go through the chapter, you will complete activities to help you locate and select reading material that you will read and enjoy. At the end of the chapter, there is an example reading log, which is one of the weekly assignments for this course. But first, let’s talk to each other and learn about our experience with reading.
Read through the following interview and think about your answers to the questions. Don’t write anything down yet! Then interview a partner about their experience with reading. If possible, your partner should not speak the same native language as you or come from the same country. It’s even better if you haven’t met the person or don’t know them very well. Write down their answers to the questions in the space provided. Then let your partner interview you, and they will write down your answers.
The interviewer asks the questions, and the interviewee answers the questions. Write your name on the line for the interviewer, and write the name of your partner on the line for the interviewee.
Interviewer (asks the questions): _________________________________________________
Interviewee (answers the questions): _____________________________________________
- Think of a time when you were young and someone read a book to you, or when you first learned to read. What feelings do you connect to that experience? Example feelings: happy, relaxed, bored, excited, curious, impatient, safe
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- How interested are you in reading in your first language?
__I love reading!
__I'm interested.
__I'm not very interested.
__I don't like reading.
- How often do you read print or online material for enjoyment in any language? (This includes newspapers, magazines, and other publications, but not texts or email.)
__Daily
__Often
__Occasionally
__Never
- Tell me the kinds of materials you like to read in any language:
Books about __________________________________
Magazines about ______________________________
Online articles about ___________________________
Newspapers
- When you read in English, do you usually read….
__slowly?
__at a moderate speed?
__quickly?
- Which of the following do you think help you become a better reader?
__Reading a lot.
__Reading slowly and carefully.
__Reading materials that are hard, with many new words.
__Reading materials that are easy.
After you finish interviewing your partner, you will join another pair. Introduce your partner and take time to greet each other. Share one or two interesting things you learned about your partner. Don’t read all of the answers that your partner gave during the interview. Make sure that everyone has time to speak about their partner.
Why don't many ESOL learners enjoy reading in English?
Many people don’t like reading very much, and they especially don’t like reading in a language that is not their primary language. Why is this? People say that…
- too much unfamiliar vocabulary makes reading slow and difficult;
- many reading materials are boring; and
- reading seems like a waste of time.
If you ever think like this, extensive reading, the type of reading you will do in this course, might change your mind. You will…
- read materials that don’t have too much new vocabulary;
- choose reading materials that are interesting to you; and
- recognize that reading in English helps you learn vocabulary and grammar, which improves your speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills.