Extensive Reading and Vocabulary Acquisition

Abstract

One of the important aspects of learning a foreign language is vocabulary acquisition. Many scholars agree that even though direct instruction can contribute to learning vocabulary, the greatest part of vocabulary growth happens while learners are exposed to the target language. As studies have shown that the range of vocabulary in spoken language is much smaller than that in written texts, it is believed that the main factor that influences vocabulary development is the quantity of texts that learners read. A number of studies have demonstrated that foreign language learners can acquire vocabulary through reading and that language learning programmes that include extensive reading are more effective than only explicit learning of vocabulary through decontextualized exercises. Therefore, language instruction should include explicit vocabulary learning as well as vocabulary learning strategies and reading strategies, but it should also provide opportunities for incidental vocabulary learning through extensive reading, as it is one of the best ways of developing vocabulary knowledge and reading skills. The chapter elaborates on the importance of extensive reading for language development with a focus on vocabulary acquisition. It includes studies on the effects of reading on learning vocabulary. The last section is devoted to the characteristics of successful extensive reading programmes, selection of reading materials and implications for teaching.