Notes on Introducing a Standardised Extensive Reading Program: First Performance and Initial Expectations

Thi s pa pe r re por t s on s te p s to i mple me nt standardisation within a compulsory course at Reitaku University. In encouraging institutions to have a global outlook, Japans Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has aff ected course designers through creating the need to refine goals and introduce change. Reitaku University has taken advantage of this call for change by introducing a standardised Extensive Reading (ER) program into a compulsory course for students in its Faculty for Foreign Studies. This paper charts the first steps of what is an evolving program and shows how four teachers utilised a comprehension-based quiz website to create a standardised platform for ER. A distinct connection between teacher expectation and student performance is discerned which gives us a baseline to make further improvements.