Korean College Students’ Reflexive Positions Toward Extensive Reading and Follow-up Activities

Abstract

Extensive reading activities are believed to be an effective way of increasing literacy and language development. Although previous work focused on the relation between extensive reading and overall linguistic competence and learner attitudes, the perspectives of language learners toward the post activities of extensive reading have not been adequately addressed. The study reported in this article was conducted to illuminate how English major and non English major students at a university in South Korea positioned themselves with regards to the follow-up extensive reading activities. Through a recursive analysis of interview data, survey, field notes, and student journal entries, the findings demonstrated that although a majority of students positioned themselves as tolerant and competent when they engaged in extensive reading activities, they positioned themselves as less capable in the required post-reading tasks. In light of the findings, implications for extensive reading activities and roles of teachers are discussed.