In the next discussion, the writer presents the definition of Extensive Reading and some principles related to Extensive Reading.
3. Extensive Reading
Extensive reading is an approach to language teaching in which learners read a lot of easy material in the new language Bramford, 2004. Brown 2004
also stated that Extensive reading is a reading activity that applies to texts of more than a page, including professional articles, essays, technical reports, short stories
and books. Moreover, when the learners read extensively, they tend to read the text for pleasure Harmer, 2004. Therefore, assessing extensive reading directs
learners’ global understanding of some texts. Since extensive reading is a reading activity that is done for pleasure, the
role of a formal text that requires all learners to answer some questions from the same text is inappropriate. In extensive Reading, students choose their own
reading material and read it independently. They read their own reading material for general, overall meaning, information and for enjoyment or pleasure.
Extensive reading depends on the students’ having suitable reading material. Therefore, it is appropriate that the first two principles of the extensive
reading concern what students read. Here are some principles related to the extensive reading Bramford, 2004:
a. The Reading Material Is Easy
This is the most important principle of extensive reading for language learning because students are unlikely to succeed in reading extensively if they
have to work hard with difficult material. Students read material that contains few
or no unfamiliar items of vocabulary and grammar. In ER II class, students read many kinds of material. Students tend to choose the materials which are easy to
read. But, although they choose the easy material they also find some difficult vocabularies. Therefore, in the week assignment, students are required to submit
the summary of what they read and include the difficult vocabularies.
b. A Variety of Reading Material on A Wide Range of Topics Is Available
Variety means that students can freely find things they want to read based on their interests. Different kinds of reading material also encourage a flexible
approach to reading. Students can read the material using their own ways and reasons. In ER II class, students have their own right to read many kinds of topics
based on their interest.
c. Learners Choose What They Want to Read
Self-selection of reading material is the basis of extensive reading, and it puts students in a different role from that of traditional classroom, where the
teacher chooses or the textbook supplies reading material. One reason that many students enjoy extensive reading is that students can choose what they want to
read. After students have their own topic, they choose the reading passage by themselves. In ER II class, the students are required to choose ten reading
passages or materials during one semester. Therefore, students play important role to decide and choose what kinds of reading passages or materials they want to
read.
d. Learners Read as much as Possible
The benefits of language learning through extensive reading come from the quantity of the reading passages. The benefits of extensive reading can take
effect, if students read a book in a week because it corresponds to goal of extensive reading. However, the implementation in ER II class, students are
required to read one passage each week. After students read the reading passage they choose, students are supposed to report what they read in the form of mind-
mapping.
e. Reading Speed Is Usually Faster rather than Slower
