Introducing Extensive Reading Thomas E Bieri Escape Extensive

Introducing Extensive Reading Thomas E. Bieri Escape

Extensive Reading What is it?

Introduction Do you like reading? I hope so! Reading is a good way to learn lots of new things, to entertain yourself, and so on. Extensive Reading is a way to improve your language skills by reading a lot of really easy things in another language. For this class you will be asked to read as many interesting, easy books in English as you can. To learn more, click on “next” below or on the next arrow button. Let’s go on to some principles of ER next.

Some Principles of ER • The reading is EASY • Learners CHOOSE the reading • Learners read A LOT • Read for FUN and basic understanding • Read QUICKLY • Read SILENTLY • Your teacher is a GUIDE Ready to learn more? Click here.

The reading is EASY • This means choosing books that have words you know and easy sentences. • This means you don’t need a dictionary! • Maybe there a lot of pictures to help you understand. Ready to learn more? Click here.

Learners CHOOSE the reading • This means you decide what you want to read. • Find things that look interesting! • Find things that look easy for you! • Stop and CHANGE a book any time. • The teacher will give you some examples and some help, but you choose. Ready to learn more? Click here.

Learners read A LOT • You should read as much as you can! • Read when you are waiting for a train! • Read when you are between classes! • Keep a book with you and read it! • Read every day! Ready to learn more? Click here.

Read for FUN • Choose things you like to read. • STOP reading if it is BORING. • STOP reading if it is DIFFICULT. • Ask your friends for good books! • ENJOY it, okay? Ready to learn more? Click here.

Read for UNDERSTANDING • Understand the story. • Get new information. • Learn more about something you already know. • Don’t worry about small details. Ready to learn more? Click here.

Read QUICKLY • Try to read fast. • Don’t stop for words you don’t know. • Don’t use a dictionary. • STOP if the book makes you SLOW. Ready to learn more? Click here.

Read SILENTLY • Read by yourself and don’t speak. • Speaking the words makes you read more slowly, so don’t say them. • Shhhh. • But don’t sleep! Ready to learn more? Click here.

Your teacher is a GUIDE • Your teacher can tell you about what kind of books might be easy for you. • Your teacher might know some interesting books for you. • Your teacher will help you manage how much you read. • Your teacher might ask you about your reading. Ready for a QUIZ? Click here.

Principles Quiz Which sentences are correct? 1. You should read books and check your dictionary a lot. 2. You have to read a book to the end even when you don’t like the story. 3. You should only read at home or in class. 4. You should read every day. 5. You should choose books that you like to read. 6. You have to understand even small details. 7. You should read slowly so you understand everything. 8. You shouldn’t speak when you are reading. 9. Your teacher can help you know what books to choose. 10. You can talk about your books with your teacher and friends. Ready to check your answers? Click here.

Correct sentences 1. You should read books and check your dictionary. Don’t use a dictionary. 2. You have to read a book to the end. Stop reading a book you don’t like. 3. You should only read at home or in class. Read anywhere any time. 4. You should read every day. YES! 5. You should choose books that you like to read. YES! 6. You have to understand even small details. Basic understanding is enough. 7. You should read slowly so you understand everything. Read quickly. 8. You shouldn’t speak when you are reading. YES! 9. Your teacher can help you know what books to choose. YES! 10. You can talk about your books with your teacher and friends. YES! Ready to learn more? Click here.

Intensive or Extensive? • You may already be used to studying with Intensive Reading (IR) instead of Extensive Reading (ER). • Your teacher may ask you to do both kinds of reading. • How are they different? Do you know? Ready to learn more? Click here.

Intensive or Extensive? Intensive (IR) Extensive (ER) The teacher chooses. The learner chooses. May be difficult. Easy. One reading may be short. Lots of pages. Try to understand all details. Understand general meaning. Difficult and new words. Easy words you know. Slow. Fast. Ready for a QUIZ? Click here.

Intensive or Extensive Quiz Which one is it, IR or ER? 1. I read really fast and understand. 2. I choose things I am interested in. 3. I study lots of new words. 4. My teacher asks me lots of questions about it and sometimes they are difficult to answer. 5. I read lots of easy, fun books. Ready to check your answers? Click here.

Intensive or Extensive Quiz Which one is it, IR or ER? 1. I read really fast and understand. ER! 2. I choose things I am interested in. ER! 3. I study lots of new words. Not ER, it is IR. 4. My teacher asks me lots of questions about it and sometimes they are difficult to answer. Also IR. 5. I read lots of easy, fun books. ER! Ready to learn more? Click here.

Benefits of Extensive Reading • What are the benefits, or good points, to doing Extensive Reading? • Why should you do it? Ready to learn more? Click here.

Benefits of Extensive Reading • It is fun and interesting. • You can learn more about the world. • It lets you “meet” a lot of English you can understand. • It helps your vocabulary grow. • It helps your writing skills. • It helps your English generally. Ready to learn more? Click here.

Benefits of Extensive Reading So, Extensive Reading is a fun and easy way to improve your English and your knowledge. Do you think that is good? Click: Yes! or No.

Benefits Quiz Which ones are true? Extensive Reading helps you learn words better. Extensive Reading lets you learn about many things. Extensive Reading is interesting. Extensive Reading can help your writing skills. Extensive Reading is an easy way to get better at English. Ready to check your answers? Click here.

Benefits Answers They are ALL true! Extensive Reading helps you learn words better. Extensive Reading lets you learn about many things. Extensive Reading is interesting. Extensive Reading can help your writing skills. Extensive Reading is an easy way to get better at English. Ready to learn more? Click here.

What things can I read? So how can you find easy and interesting things to read? If you read the next few pages you can find out about some of them. • Graded Readers • Leveled Readers • Authentic Materials Ready to learn more? Click here.

Graded Readers Graded readers are books written especially for language learners. They have different levels, or grades. The lowest levels use very few English words, maybe only 75 or 100 different words. These are usually easy words used many times in one story. Higher levels may use 3000 or 4000 different words. Higher levels may also have longer sentences and harder grammar. Ready to learn more? Click here.

Leveled Readers Leveled readers also have different levels, but they are written for young native speakers who are learning to read. Often the sentences are simple but the words might be a little difficult. These often have lots of pictures so they are easier to understand. Ready to learn more? Click here.

Authentic Materials Authentic materials are for native speakers. Some of these may be easy and fun for you to read. For example, books for young people, magazines with lots of pictures, and comics and graphic novels could be good for you. This might be true if you have lived and studied in an English-speaking country or are a high level student. Ready for a QUIZ? Click here.

Materials Quiz True or False? 1. Leveled readers are for language learners. 2. Native speaker children will read graded readers. 3. Authentic materials might be for any age. 4. Pictures and graphics can help you understand authentic materials. 5. Graded readers often use more words than leveled readers. Ready to check the answers? Click here.

Materials Answers 1. Leveled GRADED readers are for language learners. 2. Native speaker children will read graded LEVELED readers. 3. Authentic materials might be for any age. YES! 4. Pictures and graphics can help you understand authentic materials. YES! 5. Graded readers often use more LESS words than leveled readers. Ready to try something new? Click here.

Role Play Task In this task you will read about a different person. Then you will have to be that person and choose a book. You have to think about what is good for that person, not you. Okay? Let’s try it! Click here.

Role Play 1 You are Anne. You are studying medicine and like science. You like dogs, but not cats. You don’t like scary stories, but you enjoy love stories. You lived in America for 5 years and still remember a lot of words, maybe 3000 or 4000 of them. Ready? Click here.

Choice 1 You are Anne. Which book is best? Look carefully and choose the book. Click on the picture. Low Medium High Ready to check your answer? Click here.

Answer 1 The high level love story, Pride and Prejudice, is best. Low Medium High Too easy for Anne. Good choice! High level love story. Too scary for Anne. Finished? Click here.

Role Play 2 You are Dave. You like many sports and music of any kind. You like adventures. You think love stories are boring. You haven’t studied English much, so you understand maybe 400 or 500 words. Ready? Click here.

Choice 2 You are Dave. Which book is best? Look carefully and choose the book. Click on the picture. Low Medium High Ready to check your answer? Click here.

Answer 2 The Beautiful Game, a low level book about sports is best for Dave. Low Good level and topic for Dave. Low Medium He doesn’t like love stories. Too high level for Dave. High Too high level for Dave. Finished? Click here.

Class Requirements Check your syllabus and with your teacher for the extensive reading requirements and grading for your class. Finished? Click here.

Links Students can learn more about Extensive Reading at this link: Extensive Reading Central: Students You can find a downloadable handbook about ER in Japanese here. ERF Resources Page Exit