Critical Reading 10

Extensive Reading is usually used for getting pleasure. That goal can be implemented to the primary and secondary school, but not for university context. Reading habit in South Korea nowadays tends to reading-for-survival not reading-for-pleasure anymore. The research of the goal changing of extensive reading has been conducted and written in a article entitled “Extensive Reading in the Korean EAP University Context: A reconsideration of its goals”. The goal of extensive reading in the primary and secondary school is to develop English proficiency. Hoewever, as time passed by, people around the world are challenged with the increasing of economic difficulty. Korean University students are worry about the future as they are graduated later and seek for a job. That is why the goal of ER should be differentiated between secondary school student and university student. University students are better if they are provided by material that is not just entertaining but also informative for their future such as topics on academic and career skill development. The ER goal of university L2 learners is to use it as engine in building motivation in order to develop long-life reading habit. They should be prepared for academic skill abroad and career development. There for the goal of university L2 learner is not merely for entertainment. The author use Day and Bamford’s (1998) theory about expectancy-value model in developing student’s motivation. Expectancy is about the chosen material should be match with student’s ability, so their expectation in reading can be reached. Value is about the attitude and sociocultural environment. Those theory influences student’s motivation in reading.

Implication:

As a future teacher, we should not use ER just as a tools for developing English proficiency and entertaining the student. ER has different goals based on the school grade. We should also concern about their need for their future. That is why; teacher or lecture should also provide materials that support their future after graduated.

"Reading is its own reward"

-  Day & Bamford 

Citation :
Wang, G. H., & Seok-Dong, W. (2013). Extensive Reading in the Korean EAP University Context: A Reconsideration of Its Goals. Journal of Arts and Humanities, 2(10), 1.