Extensive reading vs skills building in an EFL context

Abstract

Reading has been taught by the translation procdure in EFL situations such as Japan, but today there is a trend towards the use of ESL-type 'skills building' text books and procedures and to a much lesser extent, towards extensive reading. There is a considerable difference between these two procedures, not only for teachers and learners, but also for the allocation of institutional resources. Despite this, there is little useful research comparing them. This paper examines previous research on extensive reading, and then describes an experiment comparing the improvement of reading comprehension by Japanese college freshmen taught either by a skills-based or extensive reading procedure. The results suggetsbtha extensive reading may be at least as effective as skills-building, with the important advantage that it is more interesting for the learners.