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Simply Read

In the mid-nineties, two language researchers conducted an interesting

experiment with a group of English language students in Japan. These students

ware retaking compulsory English courses they had previously failed. On language

test, these students were far behind the regular university students. Since most of 5

these students disliked studying English, few expected much improvement.

The researchers put these students in a special class for the second semester of the

English course. The class met for the same amount of time as regular English

courses, but the instruction was very different. At the end of semester, the students

took another language test and the results were surprising. In just one semester, 10

the students in the special class improved so much that their scores on the new

tests were almost as high as the regular English students. Not only they had their

English ability improved greatly, but many of these students, who used to dread

English study, enjoyed the class.

Extensive reading 15

What was this “secret method” the produced such dramatic results on these

previously reluctant learners? The class was an extensive reading course. Extensive

reading is simply reading a lot of English (reading almost every day) at a fairly easy

level (being able to understand the text without needing a dictionary). The students

in the course mentioned above spent almost all of their class time simply reading 20

enjoyable books.

In study after study, researchers are finding that extensive reading can play a big

role in language learning success. In fact, one study investigating language-

learning strategies found reading for pleasure and seeking opportunities to read in

English as the two most strongly related factors to successful language learning. 25

Reading and writing It should come as no surprise that extensive reading helps students improve

reading skills. Several studies have shown that students doing extensive reading for

more than one year were almost always better readers than student who did the

usual “difficult” reading in the classroom. Extensive reading also allows student to 30

improve reading speed much more quickly than by reading difficult texts. In short,

people can learn to read well simply by reading a lot at an appropriate level.

What is more surprising is how much extensive reading improves students’ writing

skills. In one study on extensive reading, students in extensive reading programmes

were evaluated as 2-3 times better in writing when compared with students who 35

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did not read much yet actually practiced writing more! Many other researchers

have come to similar conclusions. Students who just read a lot can make equal or

better progress in writing skills than students who actually practice writing, at least

in regards to beginner and intermediate students.

Extensive reading and speaking skills 40

Surprisingly, extensive reading can also help speaking skills, as well as listening

skills to a lesser extent. One study one learning strategies found reading outside of

the classroom to be the most significant predictor of oral communicative ability.

Students who read a lot are more likely to speak well. Other research have found

that students just reading graded readers (simplified books especially made for 45

language students) improved in both fluency and accuracy of expression in their

speaking, even though the students did very little speaking during the course of the

study.

TOEFL/TOEIC tests Do you want to have a good TOEFL or TOEIC score? Maybe you should start 50

thinking about extensive reading. Researchers have found that students who often

read in English in their free time tend to have high TOEFL scores, while those who

do not, tend to have low scores. They found that reading was a better predictor of

TOEFL performance than even the number of year studying English and living in

English-speaking countries. Another study showed that students who only read 55

enjoyable books made consistent gain on their TOEFL scores, averaging 3-4 points

on the test each week.

How is it that just reading alone can bring all of these benefits? Extensive reading

allows students to see a lot of the language in context over and over again, giving

them the exposure they need to understand, organize, remember, and use it. It 60

builds and strengthens fundamental vocabulary, and grammar knowledge. In short,

extensive reading provides a very strong foundation on which to build all language

skills.

Extensive reading is not the only way to learn a language. Most language scholars

would agree that language students still need to spend a lot of time practicing 65

speaking, listening, writing, and so on in order to become advanced in the

language. However, adding extensive reading to your private study can certainly do

some great things for your language ability. Not only is extensive reading effective,

but it can be very enjoyable way to learn a new language. Give it a try and see what

it will do for you! 70

Source: Essential Reading Student Book 3