Nurturing Reading Logs to Foster Students’ Reading Habits

Abstract

Reading habit influences language proficiency. Teachers have used Extensive Reading (ER) as a strategy to enhance students’ reading habits. The present study investigated how reading logs influenced the reading habits of 28 EFL learners in Reading courses using a qualitative research approach. Data were collected using observations, classroom discussions, and students’ reading logs. Study participants were students enrolled in an Extensive Reading class who had undertaken an Intensive Reading class in the preceding semester as a prerequisite subject. Reading logs improved rates of reading. Nurturing reading logs helped students enhance their reading habits based on word count, number of books/articles read, and their reflections on their reading attitudes. Lecturers should promote a reading atmosphere in which students are encouraged to read for pleasure. All EFL learners should have access to more reader books and an ongoing schedule of extensive reading to foster good reading habits.