ReadOasis: So this is our our second question with Dr. Richard Day. And this is from a student, and basically it’s this: What would you say to a student who doesn’t want to do ER because, let’s say, he or she wants to spend more time improving their listening or speaking skills.

Dr. Day: Good. That’s a typical question. Exactly. Students react at the first time they’ve heard of extensive reading, they hear of extensive reading, they react negatively because the idea of reading: easy, pleasurable, interesting, enjoyable books seems to be the flip side of what reading is, hard translation sort of thing. . .

And I say well, “no!” We know that from experience, we know from students all around the world that when students engage in extensive reading and are reading books they select that are easy for them to read, that are interesting and enjoyable, great things happen. Their vocabulary improves. Their listening gets better, and their speaking improves. And we know that just in general good writers are good readers. So dear skeptical student, “Give it a try, and you are gonna discover great things will happen when you read.

Awesome. I like that. It makes me want to go out and read.

Dr. Day: Start reading today. Don’t just sit there!