Integrating Extensive Reading (ER)

into the

Freshman Reading Course

What is the new requirement for graduation for all Freshman entering university starting

September, 2011?

Beginning 2011-12 academic year, all university students must pass a

language proficiency test.

1. Most of you have little confidence in your English ability

2. You avoid English as much as you can; you won’t speak it unless asked to do so by your teacher; you won’t listen to it; you don’t read it on your own and naturally, you won’t use it in writing unless it’s a homework assignment

What is the present situation?

3. Many of you will find your English not improving after high school; in fact, it worsens in college;

4. Many of you will have a difficult time passing the graduation language proficiency test;

5. Worst of all, you can’t get your graduation diploma.

A Vicious Circle

How can you solve this problem?

How?

by what means?

The best way is to read as much English as possible!

Freshman Reading Course –2 parts:

(1) intensive reading (IR)(2) extensive reading (ER)

Think of it in terms of learning to drive or learning to play tennis

driving lessons + practice on the road

tennis lessons + practice on the court

Intensive Reading (lessons)+

Extensive Reading (practice)

Extensive Reading

What is extensive reading (ER)?

What is the rationale behind ER?

How do you do it?

When and where do you do it?

1. Reading longer and easy-to-understand material;

2. Reading is done mostly outside the classroom;

3. Reading is done at one’s own pace and level;

4. Reading material is chosen by the students themselves based on their own interest; hence, another name for extensive reading is “Pleasure Reading”

What is Extensive Reading (ER) or Pleasure Reading ? Definition

STUDENT ORIENTATION to Extensive ReadingChart contrasting intensive and extensive reading

TYPE OF READING INTENSIVE EXTENSIVE

CLASS GOAL Reading accurately Read fluently

READING PURPOSETranslate

Answer questionsGet information

Enjoy

FOCUS Words and pronunciation Meaning

MATERIALOften difficult

Teacher choosesEasy

You choose

AMOUNT Not much A lot

SPEED Slower Faster

METHODMust finishUse dictionary

Stop if you don’t like itNo dictionary

1. Reading skills enhanced;2. Reading speed (fluency) increased;3. General language proficiency improved;4. Attitude toward reading and language

learning changed - from “studying” English and “passing tests” to enjoying reading and learning.

Why do we need to do Extensive Reading (ER)? Rationale

And, among the 4 language skills, reading is the most essential. And it effects all the other skills…

Reading effects all the other skills

Reading

Reading comprehension

SpeakingVocabulary,

grammar

Writing(spelling, grammar,

etc.)

Listening

1. Find out your reading level (test); See chart for level and color scheme;

2. Find a graded reader that interests you(romance, mystery, science fiction, etc.);

3. Read for general understanding, information and pleasure;

4. Follow 5 basic rules;5. Keep a reading journal/reader’s response log

(Online Discussion Forum)

How do we go about doing extensive reading?

Procedure

Samples of graded readers

More Samples of Graded Readers

Some Samples of Popular Novels

EPER test resultsEPER

LEVELS

(Reader Seriesheadwords)

GStarter

(300)

FBeginner

(400-500)

EElementary

(600-800)

DLow Interm

(1000-1200)

CIntermediate

(1500-1600)

BHi-Interm

(1700-1900)

AAdvanced

(2000-2200)

XBridge

(3000)

When you get your test results you will be told what EPER level you are in (G ~ X). Each level has been

given a color that matches the level of graded readers you should be reading. When you go to the library you will be able to find the graded readers easily, simply by looking for the matching color. The numbers above show how many words are used in the readers.

Graded readers with colored labels

Publishers’ Series by EPER Level (available in PCCU library)

EPER LEVEL

(headwords) TOEFL

TOEFL – ibt TOEIC

GEPT

CEFPUBLISHERSERIES

GStarter(300)

A1

FBeginner(400-500)

A1

EElementary(600-800)

350

A2

DLow Interm(1000-1200)

390-40090+

350+Elementary

A2

CIntermediate(1500-1600)

457137+550+

Intermediate B1

BHi Interm

(1700-1900) 480 --- --- Intermediate

B1

AAdvanced

(2000-2200)527

197+ 750+Hi-Intermediate B2

XBridge(3000)

550-560220

880 Advanced C1

Penguin Readers Level 1 Level 2 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 5/6

Oxford BookwormsBlack Series Starter Stage 1 Stage 1-2 Stage 2 Stage 2-3 Stage 3-4 Stage 4-5 Stage 6

CAMBRIDGEEnglishReaders

Starter Level 1 Level 2 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

CAMBRIDGEDiscoveryReaders

Starter Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

EPER LEVEL

(headwords) TOEFL

TOEFL – ibt TOEIC

GEPT

CEF PUBLISHER SERIES

GStarter(300)

A1

FBeginner(400-500)

A1

EElementary(600-800)

350

A2

DLow Interm(1000-1200)

390-40090+

350+Elementary

A2

C Intermediate

(1600)457

137+550+

Intermediate B1

BHi Interm

(1900)480

--- ---Intermediate

B1

AAdvanced

(2200)527

197+ 750+Hi-Intermediate B2

XBridge(3000)

550-560220

880Advanced

C1

Progressive English Readers

Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4/5

Longman Originals Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Longman Structural Readers Stage 1 Stage 1/2 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 5/6

Longman Classics Stage 1 Stage 2/3 Stage 4

Compass Classic Readers Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6

HEINEMANNGuided Readers Starter Beginner Beginner Elementary Intermediate Upper

Go to library (7th Floor)Go to library (7th Floor)

Browse through stack to find a bookthat interestsyou

Browse through stack to find a bookthat interestsyou

Decide on book and read it in the library

Decide on book and read it in the library

Begin reading iteveryday;Keeping a log of your reading

Begin reading iteveryday;Keeping a log of your reading

Write the log online in English in the Discussion Forum about the story, character or anythingrelated to the story

Write the log online in English in the Discussion Forum about the story, character or anythingrelated to the story

15 - 20 minutes 20-30 min/7 days/week

Weekly log into Discussion Forum

For example: (1)Have you had a similar experience in your lifetime?(2)Do you like the protagonist? Why ?

If you find that the book is not interesting, return

and find another one.

Look for “English

Extensive Reading Room”

What do students do next?

Look for “English Extensive Reading Room”

on the 7th floor of our library

BASIC RULESSuggested by Day and Bamford (Forum 38,3, p.17)

1. Select your reading materials based on your interests and reading ability (level).

2. Do NOT use dictionaries. Practice the skills of either guessing at the meanings of unknown words or ignoring them. In other words, use the context to guess the meaning of the unknown word.

3. Do not be concerned with every detail. Keep reading in the face of difficulty and go to get the overall meaning or the gist of the story.

4. It is recommended that you should read 10 graded readers of the same level before you go to the next level.

5. If a book is boring or too hard, stop reading and find another book. The most important thing is to enjoy reading. Another term for extensive reading is “pleasure reading.”

Time: when and for how long?Anytime – between classes, waiting for bus,

waiting for someone, weekends and holidays, any spare time; for as long or short a time as you like and as often as possible

Location: Anyplace – outside of classes (sometimes, in

class), coffee shop, in dorm, at home, etc.

When and where do we do ER?

Time and Location

Do you remember that vicious circle?

Now, that vicious circle can turn into…

Conclusion

Yes, it’s true.The more you read, the more your

chances of passing the language proficiency test sooner!

Also, you will continue enjoying reading and learning on your own for

the rest of your life!

You’ll have time for a good laugh and a good cry…

Keep the following in mind…

“You're the same today as you'll be

in five years except for the people you meet and the books you read.”

- Charlie Jones