Extensive reading

You can read many easy books.

Pick books that you like. Reading for fun helps you learn. It helps you know more words.

Some schools have a daily reading time. Children pick books they enjoy. This helps them learn to read well.

Teachers can help you find good books. They can also show you how to read. This makes reading a great reward.

Reading many books can be very helpful. It can even help you speak better. It is a fun way to learn!

Do you like to read for fun? There is a special way to read called extensive reading. This means reading many long and easy books.

You do not read to pass a test. You read because you enjoy the story. This is different from school reading. School reading is often hard and slow. Extensive reading is fast and smooth. You pick books that you like. This helps you stay excited about reading.

Reading this way helps your brain grow. You learn new words without trying hard. It can also help you speak better. You gain more knowledge about the world.

Some schools use this to help kids learn. In rural Laos, children read for enjoyment every day. This helps them learn the school language. Many people use graded readers to help. These are books made with easy words. They get a little harder as you go. This helps you reach a big goal. Once you know many words, reading becomes even better!

Extensive reading is a special way to read for a long time. It means reading many long and easy books without feeling overwhelmed. This is different from academic reading, which uses short and hard texts. In extensive reading, the main goal is to find pleasure in the story. People do it to enjoy themselves or to learn new things. It helps readers feel more confident with language. This method is used in classrooms and for fun at home.

There are several rules that make this way of reading work well. First, the books should be easy and have many different topics. This keeps the reader excited and interested in the stories. Second, the reading should be fast rather than slow. Third, the act of reading is usually done alone and in silence. Some programs allow reading aloud in groups, but silence is common. Most importantly, there are no quizzes or tests after reading. The reading itself is the reward for the student.

Many people have studied how this helps us learn. A researcher named Richard Day helped outline the main ideas of this method. He said teachers should act as role models for their students. In 2013, a project called Big Brother Mouse helped schools in rural Laos. Many children there speak different languages at home. These students began a daily reading period in September 2013. They chose books just for enjoyment to help their vocabulary grow.

To help people read easily, publishers make special books called graded readers. These books start with very simple words in the first volumes. As the series goes on, the words get a little harder. For example, the Oxford Bookworm series uses the 2,500 most common words. The Longman Bridge Series once used up to 8,000 words. These series exist in many languages like French, German, and Spanish. Some series are even available in Japanese since 2006.

Extensive reading can lead to a very helpful cycle for the brain. Some experts believe that knowing 3,000 word families is a special threshold. Once a reader passes this point, reading becomes much more efficient. It is like moving from a hard climb into a smooth path. This helps learners gain more grammar and vocabulary knowledge naturally. It also builds up background knowledge about the world. By reading many books, the learner enters a virtuous circle of discovery.

Extensive reading, often called ER, is a specific approach to reading. It involves reading longer, easier texts for extended periods. The goal is to read without feeling overwhelmed or needing constant breaks. This method differs from intensive or academic reading. Intensive reading focuses on short, dense, and difficult texts. In contrast, ER emphasizes reading for pleasure, information, or general understanding. It is based on the idea that we learn to read by reading.

Several core principles, or tenets, guide the practice of extensive reading. Richard Day, a co-founder of The Extensive Reading Foundation, outlined these rules. First, the material must be easy and varied in topic and style. This ensures that learners remain engaged and motivated. Second, the reading speed should be fast rather than slow. Third, the main purpose must be pleasure. Fourth, the act of reading is typically individual and silent. While some programs use read-alouds, silence is a common trait. Finally, reading is its own reward. This means there are usually no quizzes or tests afterward.

Teachers play a vital role in making ER successful. They act as role models for what a reader looks like. They must also explain the specific methodology to their students. Teachers guide students in selecting appropriate materials to maximize the program's effects. They also keep records of what has been read. Some modern practitioners have added new elements to this process. They might include discussions or story summaries after reading. Others use audio materials alongside the texts to support the learners.

To help students find the right level, publishers create graded readers. These are book series that increase in difficulty gradually. The first volumes use common words and shorter sentences. Later volumes introduce less common vocabulary and longer texts. Many series exist in languages like French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Notable examples include the Oxford Bookworm series, which uses the 2,500 most frequent words. The Longman Bridge Series once offered a systematic grading up to 8,000 words. Other series, like the Penguin Readers, use various metrics like the Lexile scale or CEFR levels to guide readers.

Extensive reading can provide significant benefits for language learners. It promotes reading fluency and comprehension in both first and second languages. Learners often gain greater grammar and vocabulary knowledge through this method. It also increases background knowledge and builds language confidence. In 2013, a literacy project called Big Brother Mouse implemented ER in rural Laos. Many children there speak minority ethnic languages at home. By starting daily reading periods in September 2013, the program helped improve vocabulary and reading skills.

Researchers have identified specific thresholds for efficient reading. Laufer suggests that knowing 3,000 word families is a key milestone. Coady and Nation suggest that 5,000 word families or 8,000 items allow for a pleasurable experience. Once a learner reaches this level, they leave the "beginner paradox." They enter a "virtuous circle" where reading becomes much more efficient. However, there is a debate regarding how much ER can teach alone. Researcher Cobb argued that reading alone might not be enough to build a large vocabulary. He suggested that most learners need more lexical input to master a language.

Despite these debates, organizations continue to support the movement. The Extensive Reading Foundation is a non-profit that promotes these practices. They offer the Language Learner Literature Award for new English works. They also provide grants to help schools purchase books. In Japan, the Extensive Reading Special Interest Group helps teachers set up programs. They publish research to help educators make the most of extensive reading in the classroom.