English is an essential language for communicating in a globalized world. For effective English communication, L2 learners should not only improve the four language skills, but also acquire the characteristics of good language learning: positive attit...
English is an essential language for communicating in a globalized world. For effective English communication, L2 learners should not only improve the four language skills, but also acquire the characteristics of good language learning: positive attitudes towards other English speakers and their lives and the ability to learn. These properties of effective communication are reflected in the “core values” of the 2015 national English curriculum. A number of studies reported that extensive reading had a positive effect on communication ability by improving four language skills and improving effective communication skills. Despite these benefits, extensive reading is rarely included in English education in Korea. There are several factors contributing to the exclusion of extensive reading programs. One of these factors is the heavy focus on intensive reading. Another reason is the difficulty in establishing and implementing extensive reading programs. A potential solution that addresses these factors is using e-books. Additionally, various functions of e-book can confer benefits on English language learning. This study thus purposes to implement an extensive reading program through e-books in English reading classes under the current curriculum and to investigate the effects of such a program on Korean high school students’ reading comprehension, reading rate, and attitude towards extensive reading.
The study was conducted in regular classes for four weeks at a high school in Gyeonggi province in Korea. The participants were 52 EFL third grade Korean high school students. They were divided into two groups. A control group was assigned to read paper books and a experimental group was assigned to read e-books. As a pretest, the participants performed a reading ability test and a reading rate test. Also, they were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding attitudes towards extensive reading. Before the experiment, students were instructed how to read extensively and presented with the recommended book list based on their reading ability. During the experiment, students freely selected the books and read them in their free time. They were required to submit a reading log once in a week. After 12-weeks of experiment, they performed a post test for their reading ability and reading rate and filled out a post questionnaire. In addition, several students were selected for an in-dept interview; and separately, a few students’ reading logs were analyzed.
The findings of this study are as follows. First, all the participants’ scores of reading ability increased in the post-reading test. Though all the improvements were not statistically significant, the improvement of the experimental group was close to statistically significant improvement. The experimental group also showed gain that was very close to statistically significant improvement in bottom-up reading ability.
Second, the reading rates were also increased in both control and experimental groups; the increase in the experimental group was larger than one in the control group, though both of them were not found to be statistically significant like the improvement in the reading ability test.
Third, the affective domain of the participants was analyzed based on the results of the post-questionnaire, in-dept interview and reading journal. Most students in both control and experimental groups were satisfied with the extensive reading activity they participated in. They also responded positively toward extensive reading; however, the differences of the improvement in attitudes toward extensive reading between the pre- and post- questionnaire were statistically meaningful. There was a statistically meaningful change between control and experimental group in their willingness to read extensively. Participants in experimental group were more eager to read English books than those in control group after the experiment. In particular, they reported the sense of achievement which led them to became autonomous learners of English. Additionally, they also showed positive attitude and willingness toward extensive reading via e-books.
The results of this study indicate that extensive reading through e-books is more effective when it comes to improving bottom-up skills of English reading and willingness to read extensively. It is more effective, however, to read extensively through paper books to increase a reading rate. This suggests that careful consideration should be given to how to select the mode of extensive reading according to the need of students and objective of the lesson. The further work of this study can be conducted with longer time period. In addition, further research on the modes of extensive reading could be needed to analyze if there is a difference in the reading comprehension, reading rate, and the affective domain among the participants of different English proficiency. With all these implications in mind, teachers could carefully choose the modes of English extensive reading when implementing English extensive reading program in the lessons. By doing so, it will eventually lead students to be able to effectively communicate in English.