In search of the nature of extensive reading in L2: Cognitive, affective, and pedagogical perspectives

Extensive reading (ER) has been implemented under a wide variety of names, such as (uninterrupted) sustained silent reading, free voluntary reading, pleasure reading, book flood, independent reading, and Drop Everything And Read (DEAR); its various names emphasize different aspects of the same/similar kind of reading.Since a series of pioneering publications by Elley and his colleagues demonstrated ER's positive impacts on second language (L2) 1 learning in various countries (e.g., Elley, 1991Elley, , 2000;;Elley & Mangubhai, 1983), ER has received attention as a possible and promising way of improving L2 abilities.In recent years, there has been phenomenal growth in the interest in ER amongst L2 researchers and educators.Conferences, professional associations, and journals specifically focusing on the theme of ER have been founded (e.g., the World Congress on Extensive Reading, Japan Extensive Reading Association, JALT ER Special Interest Group, Extensive Reading in Japan, Journal of Extensive Reading).In addition, a number of online resources to help promote ER in educational settings are now available (cf.Lynn, 2014).Given this situation, this paper is an attempt to contribute to our understanding of the fundamentals of ER and to clarify its nature. Critical Features of ERSince ER has been applied in different sociocultural and educational settings with necessary modifications to meet local needs, Day and Bamford (1998) correctly observe, "it is hard to reduce it to a dictionary-type definition" (p. 7).However, it is still useful in our efforts to identify standard features of ER to consider the dictionary-type definitions found in the influential literature.Extensive reading means reading a large amount in the L2.This is the very essence of the procedure, and all benefits are based on it.(Day & Bamford, 1998, p. 84) Extensive reading means reading in quantity and in order to gain a general understanding of what is read.It is intended to develop good reading habits, to build up knowledge of vocabulary and structure, and to encourage a liking for reading.Intensive reading is generally at a slower speed, and requires a higher degree of understanding than extensive reading.(