Extensive Reading (Research and Resources in Language Teaching)

In this review of Extensive Reading (Research and Resources in Language Teaching), the bottom line is clear: this book is for language teachers, trainers and researchers who want a practical bridge between contemporary theory and classroom practice. The authors present a focused, research-informed guide to implementing extensive reading for L2 students, with concrete activities and assessment ideas that make a difficult pedagogy accessible. For anyone wrestling with motivation, class time and evaluation of reading programs, this review highlights why this title is worth consulting.

Key Features

• Research-grounded guidance: The book links contemporary theory and the latest studies on extensive reading and motivation, making recommendations rooted in evidence rather than opinion.
• Practical classroom activities: A rich array of original activities helps teachers introduce extensive reading into lessons and extracurricular programs with clear steps.
• Student motivation focus: Specific strategies are offered to motivate L2 learners to read more widely and enjoy the process, addressing a common barrier to ER implementation.
• Assessment tools: Advice and approaches for assessing learning from extensive reading help teachers measure progress and justify program time.
• Wide audience relevance: Content is tailored for advanced students, researchers, teacher trainers and both pre- and in-service teachers, making it broadly useful across roles.

Who It's For

The primary audience is language teaching professionals who want a practical, research-informed resource to implement extensive reading programs. Teacher trainers and researchers will appreciate the connection to current studies and the discussion of motivation that supports long-term adoption.

Less suitable are readers seeking graded readers or a handbook solely of classroom texts; this book focuses on methods, activities and assessment rather than being a collection of student reading passages. Schools looking for a step-by-step curriculum with ready-made student texts should complement this resource with appropriate reading materials.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear links between research and practice make recommendations credible and adaptable to different contexts.
• Original activities provide concrete options teachers can try without extensive preparation.
• Attention to assessment and motivation addresses two practical hurdles to sustaining ER programs.
• Suitable for a broad professional audience, from pre-service teachers to academic researchers.

Cons

• Not a source of graded reading texts; it focuses on pedagogy rather than supplying student materials.
• Readers seeking short, quick-read how-to checklists may find some chapters more theoretical than procedural.

Specifications

Title	Extensive Reading (Research and Resources in Language Teaching)
Authors	Sue Leather, Jez Uden
Focus	Extensive reading for L2 students, motivation and assessment
Audience	Advanced students, researchers, teacher trainers, pre- and in-service teachers
Content type	Research summary, practical activities, assessment guidance
Use case	Classroom implementation and teacher training

Our Verdict

Extensive Reading is a well-balanced, research-informed handbook that translates theory into workable classroom strategies, making it a valuable purchase for language teachers and trainers who need practical approaches to foster extensive reading. While it does not supply graded texts, its activities and assessment guidance deliver strong value for educators committed to building sustainable reading programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book include student reading texts?
Answer. No, the focus is on pedagogy, activities and assessment rather than providing graded reader texts.

Who benefits most from the book?
Answer. Teacher trainers, in-service and pre-service teachers, researchers and advanced students interested in ER and motivation will gain the most.

Is the content research-based?
Answer. Yes, the authors ground recommendations in contemporary theory and the latest research on extensive reading and motivation.