The more you read the better reader you become

Promoting English language development

and the reading habit among students in the rural schools

What is extensive reading ? How would extensive reading help students in

rural schools?

 What is extensive? Having great extent; covering a large area; vast

or having a wide scope, effect, influence, etc.; far-reaching; comprehensive

What is reading ? Reading is a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols in order to construct or derive meaning (reading comprehension). It is a means of language acquisition, of communication, and of sharing information and ideas.

WHAT IS EXTENSIVE READING?

Extensive reading (or free reading, book flood), is an aid to language learning, including foreign language learning, by means of a large amount of reading which is expected to statistically increase unknown word encounters and associated learning opportunities by inferencing. The learner's view and review of unknown words in specific context will allow the learner to infer and thus learn those words' meanings. From: Wikipedia

motivation

teachers modeling

Factors in extensive reading

students choice

The materials (books)

How would extensive reading help students in rural schools?

The Guided Extensive Reading Program(GER Program)

What is GER Program?

It was adapted from Hsui's (2000) Guided

Independent Reading (GIR) Program. She suggests that, "may be used as a supplementary reading program in upper primary (5th and 6th grade) and lower secondary (7th to 9th grade) classrooms.for students who can read with varying degrees of proficiency, but who generally will not read for various reasons, such as failure to develop a love for reading, unavailability of appropriate reading materials, insufficient time to read extensively because of school demands, and lack of motivation to read extensively"

How does it really help?

Unmotivated students
1. GER needs to be conducted in a relaxed, informal, classroom atmosphere.
2. Students' reading progress is monitored and reinforced by giving words of praise and encouragement or by awarding them "stars", etc., for books read. 3. Students are given the opportunity to choose the books that they would like to read.

 Teachers role 1. The teachers need to be well-informed about the books and reading materials that would appeal to their students.
2. The teacher focuses on helping students to read for pleasure.

3. The program needs to be conducted on a regular basis. 4. Established routines, aimed at inculcating the reading habit and love of reading among students, are an important part of the program.
5. The teacher should be a role model of a reader.

 Lack of vocabulary
1. Students are encouraged to retell, to the class, the stories they had read.

The materials 1. The reading materials should be within the students' level of competency.

The aims of the GER program

1. The GER program is aimed at motivating

students to read extensively -- to read as many books as possible, and to be excited about reading. 2. It is thus aimed at having students read books for pleasure.

Features of the program

The teachers need to be well-informed about

the books and reading materials that would appeal to their students. GER needs to be conducted in a relaxed, informal, classroom atmosphere, where the teacher focuses on helping students read for pleasure. The reading materials should be within the students' level of competency. Students are given the opportunity to choose the books that they would like to read.

 The program needs to be conducted on a regular basis.

Established routines; aimed at inculcating the

reading habit and love of reading among students are an important part of the program. Students are encouraged to retell, to the class, the stories they had read. Students' reading progress is monitored and reinforced by giving words of praise and encouragement or by awarding them "stars", etc., for books read.

Method of Data Gathering

Firstly, data were gathered from in-depth classroom observations of the Guided Extensive Reading Program sessions

Later, in the "Results" section, we present the selected observations, reflections, and comments of the teachers and students.

Finally, open-ended, in-depth interviews were carried out to obtain the views of the teachers and students .

The success of a reading program depends on several factors:Students

To monitor their reading.

Program

The program is organized and implemented.

Teachers feel about extensive reading.

Teachers
to motivate the students to read.

Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that

students in rural schools can and do benefit from extensive reading. The majority of the students in the study of such programmes have developed positive attitudes towards reading in English and help in boosting their English acquisition. Longitudinal studies should be carried out to determine the effect of extensive reading on students' language proficiency in Malaysia.

Thank You